More than 20,000 evacuated as wildfire spreads near Bordeaux
Authorities evacuated more than 20,000 people as an intense wildfire burned 2,400 hectares in less than 24 hours west of Bordeaux on July 23, 2026.
More than 20,000 people were evacuated on July 23, 2026, as a fast-moving wildfire spread through south-western France near Bordeaux, according to reports citing local authorities and firefighters.
The blaze began in pine forest near Saumos, about 40 kilometres west of Bordeaux and north of the Bay of Arcachon. It burned roughly 2,400 hectares in less than 24 hours, prompting reception centres to open for displaced residents and visitors, including tourists staying at campsites and other holiday accommodation.
The Guardian described the fire as particularly intense, while Al Jazeera separately reported that thousands were being moved from threatened areas as crews fought major fires amid extreme heat.
The reports available at the time of writing did not establish a cause or provide a confirmed casualty count. The evacuation remained the clearest measure of the fire’s immediate impact.
