France fire rekindles near Bordeaux, Spain evacuees return as new heatwave arrives

Renewed flames in Gironde

Authorities in Lège-Cap-Ferret reported a major rekindle near Grand Crohot on the Atlantic coast shortly after midday on 28 July. The fire, which had been described as stable overnight, forced the extension of a firebreak to the ocean and drew aerial support. By 17:00, the prefect of Gironde confirmed 14 separate flare-ups during the day, and one additional firefighter was injured, bringing the total number of injured firefighters in the department to 110. The prefect also noted that residents of three previously evacuated communities near Bordeaux could begin returning home, provided they kept mobile phones on, followed safety instructions, and kept a bag packed in case of renewed evacuation.

We understand how difficult it is to be away from home and have no visibility of the situation. Many of you want to return to check on your home or care for your animals.

Some 240 houses have been destroyed in Gironde, and more than 220,000 people have been evacuated. Roughly 4,000 holidaymakers were cleared from campsites and holiday parks in Lacanau on Wednesday morning as a precaution, given the combination of heat and strengthening wind. Authorities warned that it remains unclear when all evacuees can go home.

Spain eases some evacuations

Spain partially lifted evacuation orders on 28 July. The Interior Ministry said residents of 13 municipalities in Ávila and Madrid could safely return, and nine of 11 evacuated communities in Toledo province also had their orders lifted. Around 60,000 people had been evacuated across Spain. Although the fire is not yet under control, the Interior Ministry said its spread had slowed considerably thanks to the work of firefighters.

The next days are crucial.

Total burned area in Spain reached between 172,000 and 176,000 hectares by 28 July, an expanse roughly six times larger than all land burned in 2025.

New heatwave threatens progress

Météo France warned that a new heatwave began on 28 July, with temperatures in Gironde and Landes expected to reach 37°C and locally 41°C in the coming days. Seven departments along the Mediterranean coast were placed under code orange for high wildfire risk. The Spanish weather agency Aemet said the heat would persist at least until Sunday, making firefighting more difficult.

Due to intense heat and drought, the risk of forest fires will gradually increase across the whole country this week.

A French fire service spokesperson described the situation as "a race against the clock".

Casualties and damage

A 38-year-old volunteer firefighter from Saint-Étienne-du-Grès in the Bouches-du-Rhône department died on Monday when his vehicle left the road, possibly after a heart attack. He was the fourth firefighter to die in recent days, following a fatality in Arles. In France, 86,000 hectares have burned in total, with 42,000 hectares destroyed in the Bordeaux region alone, an area four times the size of Paris.

It is the worst since the Second World War.

The phenomenon of pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which make wildfires more unpredictable, was observed during the Gironde fires.

Travel and insurance impact

The Netherlands raised its travel advisory for all of Spain, including the Canary Islands, to yellow, advising travellers to monitor local news and weather. The advisory for France also remains yellow. Dutch insurers NN, Interpolis and ANWB reported receiving dozens of claims from holidaymakers affected by the fires, mainly queries about travel and cancellation insurance. The number is expected to rise once evacuees can assess damage.