Caroline Blumberg, Samuel Petrequin and Joseph Wilson
July 25, 2026 — 12:01pm
Archacon, France – Authorities in France evacuated some suburbs of Bordeaux as a massive wildfire shifted toward the city famous for its wines.
The prefect of the Gironde region that includes Bordeaux ordered the evacuation in the early hours of Saturday, covering parts of three of the city’s western suburbs, including its airport.
“As the fire continues to spread, and despite the significant resources deployed by firefighters, the situation requires the evacuation of residents from the affected areas to ensure their safety,” a statement from the prefecture said.
From a beach in Arcachon, locals and holidaymakers watch in astonishment as the fire rages on the other side of the bay, in Lège-Cap-Ferret. Hans Lucas via AFP Massive forest fires have forced the evacuation of some 200,000 people in south-western France and central Spain, with residents fleeing towns near Madrid and Bordeaux.
In the latest sign of the threat to Bordeaux and surrounding towns, French authorities sent a giant A400M transporter on repeated flights over the woodlands west of the major city to drop retardant on the fires.
Organisers of the Tour de France also announced a truncated 21st and final stage of the famous sporting event, in part to ease the strain on emergency services.
Firefighters and authorities in both countries were caught off guard by the violence of the fires, which were fuelled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change.
In Spain, firefi
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