# Wildfire near Bordeaux forces evacuation of thousands Uncontrollable fires in southwestern France have destroyed thousands of hectares of land. - **Source:** [BBC News](https://brifing.si/source/647b890e-c85e-45b8-9588-ccfecdec4a99) - **Published:** 2026-07-26 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7ab19122-7018-470e-b3dd-9aecc9dfa8a8 ## Scale of the wildfires Forest fires that started in France's Gironde region are advancing unpredictably toward Bordeaux due to strong winds. Authorities report the fire is 'spreading erratically,' with 55,000 people evacuated. The area is globally renowned for its vineyards. ## Crisis across Europe Over 330,000 people have been evacuated in France and Spain due to wildfires in the past week. In France alone, 42,000 hectares have burned. The fire in Spain's Ávila region has become the country's largest wildfire in recent history. ## Firefighters' struggle 2,500 firefighters are working around the clock to contain the blaze. Whirlwinds created by the fire complicate suppression efforts. In Le Porge, volunteers are supporting exhausted crews by preparing meals and providing rest areas. ## Transport disruptions A 60km stretch of the A63 highway to Spain has been closed due to the fires. All commercial flights at Bordeaux Airport have been delayed. The final stage of the Tour de France was shortened to redeploy security forces to firefighting operations. ## Climate crisis warning Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez emphasized 'the need for a major public pact on the climate emergency.' One civilian has died in Valencia, while two French firefighters perished in the line of duty. ## Rebuilding pledge French President Macron vowed 'we will rebuild.' A convention center in Bordeaux has been converted into temporary shelter for evacuees. Experts warn continued high temperatures and low humidity will maintain extreme fire risk conditions. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyj8k4nn5jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._