More than 10,000 residents and tourists were evacuated overnight in southwestern France as a wildfire burned through 2,400 hectares of forest west of Bordeaux. The blaze is concentrated near the Lège-Cap Ferret area and the Arcachon Bay, a region currently experiencing high seasonal tourism. Approximately 500 firefighters are on-site, and local officials reported no injuries as of Thursday.
The fire prompted authorities to close access to the Cap Ferret peninsula. Philippe de Gonneville, the mayor of Lège-Cap Ferret, stated that contingency plans are in place to evacuate the entire peninsula by sea and road if the fire continues to advance. The evacuation included several campgrounds and residential neighborhoods as the flames reached the edge of Lège.
The fire in France occurs amid a series of heatwaves and drought conditions affecting several European nations. In Spain, authorities are monitoring multiple active fires across the central and northwestern regions, while railway services between Madrid and Barcelona were briefly suspended due to a fire near the tracks. In Italy, a firefighter died while responding to a blaze in Sicily.
The World Weather Attribution group released a report Thursday stating that rising temperatures are accelerating soil evaporation, which worsens drought conditions regardless of rainfall levels. Several countries, including the Netherlands, Romania, and the United Kingdom, have implemented water restrictions or reported shortages as a result of the ongoing dry conditions and above-average temperatures.