27.07.2026 19:45

Government rejects criticism of wildfire response

Bordeaux - 27 July 2026: France's government has rejected accusations that it is not providing sufficient personnel and firefighting resources to combat the severe wildfires. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez pointed on Monday to the exceptional mobilization in several parts of the country. More than 2,500 firefighters are deployed against the fire near Saumos and in the Arcachon Basin in Gironde alone. The fire has been stabilized but not yet fully contained.According to the Élysée Palace, 14 interregional response columns and a Swiss contingent are supporting local forces. They are joined by 1,500 soldiers, 1,200 police officers and gendarmes, and 450 volunteers from recognized civil protection organizations. Eighteen aircraft are available for firefighting operations. Since 25 July, an A400M military transport aircraft has also been supplying ground units with firefighting agents from the air.The fire has been raging since 22 July in the Saumos area and the Arcachon Basin. According to the government, it has affected 42,000 hectares. Around 220,000 people have been or are affected by evacuations; 50,000 people were moved to safety as a precaution on Saturday night alone. An initial assessment lists 277 damaged or destroyed buildings.Nuñez was responding to criticism that national resources were insufficient in view of several fires breaking out at the same time. European assistance has arrived alongside French forces. Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, two Black Hawk firefighting helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as a Croatian Canadair firefighting...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 19:31

Tondelier calls for climate meeting with France’s party leaders

Bordeaux - 27.07.2026: The leader of the Ecologistes, Marine Tondelier, has called on President Emmanuel Macron to convene France's political forces for a briefing on the climate crisis. Her initiative came on Monday ahead of another period of extreme heat and amid large-scale wildfires affecting mainly the southwest of the country.Tondelier expects the president to inform party leaders about the danger situation and the government's response. No invitation from the Elysee Palace was known by Monday evening. With her appeal, the Green politician aims to treat climate adaptation and disaster protection as national tasks that extend beyond the usual party competition.The reason is the exceptional...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 18:45

Culture Ministry Calls for Protection of Particularly Vulnerable Museum Objects

Paris - 27.07.2026: France's Ministry of Culture is responding to concerns about further thefts from museums with a clear directive: Particularly vulnerable objects are to be removed from exhibitions and temporarily housed in a protected location. They may only return to display cases once their presentation is sufficiently secured. The notice is addressed to museums and other institutions that preserve cultural property.The measures primarily concern exhibits whose high material value, small size or easy accessibility could make them attractive to perpetrators. Local officials must decide which items are to be relocated; the ministry did not publish a general list. The assessment is likely to take...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 18:30

Wildfire in Gironde Stabilized, but Still Not Under Control

Saumos - 27 July 2026: The major wildfire in northwestern Gironde has been stabilized, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, but it is still not fully under control. Since it broke out on 22 July, the flames have affected around 42,000 hectares in the Saumos area and the Cap-Ferret region. Rain overnight and temporarily more favorable weather conditions slowed its spread. However, the risk of the fire flaring up again has not been eliminated.For incident commanders, the distinction is crucial: a stabilized fire is not currently spreading significantly. It is considered under control only once the fire perimeter has been secured and there is no longer any immediate risk of further spread. Active fire fronts remain in some sections. Wind, drought and rising temperatures could reignite vegetation and jeopardize the firefighting progress achieved so far.Meteo-France expects a new period of very high temperatures across large parts of France from 28 July. Locally, temperatures in the southwest could reach around 40 degrees Celsius. Even before then, temperatures of 36 to 37...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 18:15

Used Instead of New: Flea Markets in Northern France Draw Large Crowds

Lille - 27.07.2026: Flea and second-hand markets in northern France are bustling with activity. As Franceinfo reported on Monday from the Nord department, many visitors are specifically looking for affordable everyday items. With purchasing power declining, these markets are becoming more attractive to households that need to limit their spending. Sellers, meanwhile, are clearing out cupboards and basements and supplementing their budgets with the proceeds.The crowds followed a weekend with numerous events across the region. Markets in Marly and Dannes were announced for July 26, among others, while a flea market was held in Noyelles-sous-Lens town center. During the summer months, such events are part of the local calendar in many cities and smaller municipalities. They bring together private sellers, professional traders and buyers from the surrounding area.The most sought-after items are everyday necessities: clothing, dishes, toys, books, small pieces of furniture and decorative items. Prices are often negotiable and are generally well below the cost of new goods. For families, buying second-hand can therefore be a way to obtain...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 18:01

Spain battles major wildfires west of Madrid and a new heatwave

Madrid - 27 July 2026: Emergency crews are battling several major fires west of Madrid and in the neighboring province of Ávila. Even before another heatwave is expected to begin on July 28, they are trying to contain the active fire fronts and secure threatened towns. The Spanish government has declared a national emergency for the Autonomous Community of Madrid and Ávila. This places the state in charge of coordinating national, regional and municipal forces.In the Sierra Oeste, the fires near Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias have merged into a large fire complex. The fire that broke out near Burgohondo in Ávila...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 17:46

Investigators Examine Causes of Wildfires in Gironde and Landes

Biscarrosse - 27.07.2026: Following two devastating wildfires in southwestern France, investigators are examining possible unintentional causes. In the Saumos fire in Gironde, which broke out on 22 July, the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office sees a possible connection, following initial investigations, with brush-cutting work near a high-voltage power line. The Lesparre-Medoc gendarmerie has been tasked with the investigation.According to the public prosecutor's office, the machine was used by employees of a company maintaining the area around the line on behalf of network operator Enedis. Enedis confirmed the work. Based on current information, use of the device was permitted under a prefectural regulation. However, it remains unclear...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 17:30

Drought Costs in France Expected to Exceed 2022 Record

Paris - 27 July 2026: According to Environment Minister Monique Barbut, the economic consequences of drought in France will exceed the damage recorded in the exceptional year of 2022. At the time, the state statistical office for sustainable development put the total economic costs at more than 5.6 billion euros. Barbut therefore expects a burden that will surpass the most expensive documented drought period to date.The 2022 assessment explains why costs quickly reach high amounts. Around 61 percent of the damage at the time affected buildings. Drying soils shrink, particularly in regions with clay-rich ground, and expand again when rainfall returns. Movements in the ground...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 17:15

UNESCO declares the royal fortresses of Languedoc a World Heritage Site

Carcassonne - 27 July 2026: UNESCO has added the royal fortresses of Languedoc to the World Heritage List. The World Heritage Committee decided on the serial site on Sunday, 26 July, during its 48th session in Busan, South Korea. It brings together the castle and city walls of Carcassonne with the fortresses of Aguilar, Lastours, Montsegur, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Queribus and Termes.The designation applies to a defensive system that the Capetian kings had expanded in the 13th and 14th centuries after the Albigensian Crusade. Built on rugged rocky ridges, the castles secured strategic routes and consolidated the power of the newly created Seneschalcy of Carcassonne. The...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 17:01

Insurers extend reporting deadlines for wildfire victims

Paris - 27.07.2026: French insurers intend to reimburse evacuees from areas affected by wildfires in Gironde, Landes and Var for the costs of temporary accommodation. Economy Minister Roland Lescure announced the agreement on Monday following a crisis meeting in Bercy. According to the industry association, it applies to residents who are temporarily unable to use their primary residence because of an official evacuation.The arrangement covers accommodation costs for up to three weeks and also applies when the home itself shows no visible fire damage. However, the individual insurance contract remains decisive. Companies may require proof of expenses and of the duration of inaccessibility. This is significant for those affected because an evacuation alone does not automatically trigger coverage for all consequential costs under a building or household contents insurance policy.At the same time, insurers are extending the deadline for reporting claims at least until August 31, 2026. Normally, policyholders must report fire damage within five working days. The exception gives households additional time if they were initially evacuated, have no...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 16:46

After the Major Fire in Le Porge: Returning to a Devastated Town

Le Porge - 27 July 2026: Following the evacuations, the first residents are returning to Le Porge. In many places, they are finding charred walls, melted materials and ash. One resident reported that the flames had completely destroyed his workplace. For many people in the municipality on France's Atlantic coast, returning home is therefore their first direct assessment of their losses.The major fire broke out on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, in the neighbouring municipality of Saumos. From there, the fire spread rapidly towards Le Porge and the Cap-Ferret peninsula. According to reports from the scene, the flames reached parts of the municipality as early as...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 16:30

Wildfire in Gironde Stabilized, New Heatwave Heightens the Danger

Bordeaux - 27 July 2026: According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the major wildfire that has been raging in Gironde since 22 July has been stabilized, but not yet fully contained. The fire has affected around 42,000 hectares. Emergency crews must continue to expect isolated fire hotspots to flare up again.Following the Cabinet meeting in Paris, Nuñez warned against confusing the current lull with an end to the danger. A forest fire is considered stabilized when its spread has been temporarily halted. It is only fully under control once its perimeter has been secured and there is no longer any significant risk of further spread....

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 16:16

Nuñez declares wildfires the most urgent security crisis

Bordeaux - 27 July 2026: Following the Council of Ministers, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the severe wildfires in southwestern France as the most urgent security crisis. After a brief reference to a knife attack in Paris, he focused primarily on the situation in the Gironde and Landes departments. Fire services, security forces and municipal authorities there have been under considerable operational pressure for several days.According to the latest figures from the Gironde prefecture, the flames had engulfed around 42,000 hectares by Sunday evening, 26 July. Nearly 220,000 people in 23 municipalities had to leave their homes as a precaution or under direct orders. The scale explains why the government is not treating the fires solely as a regional disaster, but is coordinating measures centrally.As early as 24 July, Nuñez stated at the interministerial crisis center that more than 50,000 hectares had burned nationwide since the start of the year. At that time, authorities had recorded 32 other active fires in France. The fires in the Bordeaux area are therefore part of a broader strain on civil protection during the summer dry period.Evacuations do not protect the population from the flames alone. They keep emergency routes clear, facilitate the deployment of firefighting vehicles and aircraft, and reduce health risks caused by dense smoke. In the Landes department, the prefect ordered, among other measures, the precautionary evacuation of Parentis-en-Born, with nearly 8,000 residents. By 24 July, 31,000 people had already been...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 15:01

Wildfires Bring More Than 13,000 Businesses in Gironde to a Standstill

Bordeaux - 27/07/2026: The wildfires in Gironde are having far-reaching consequences for the regional economy. According to the Ministry of Economy, more than 13,000 businesses have had to evacuate their premises or suspend operations. Economy Minister Roland Lescure said on Monday that under these conditions, the companies could not continue their usual activities. President Emmanuel Macron chaired an interministerial crisis meeting on the fires in southern France in the morning.According to the ministry, the evacuation zones include around 7,000 craft businesses and 6,300 commercial enterprises. This affects numerous small and medium-sized companies whose business depends on daily customers, seasonal bookings or reliable supply chains. The...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 14:46

Buffer zones aim to slow wildfires in Gironde

Bordeaux - 07/27/2026: As wildfires continue in Gironde, the fire service is increasingly relying on buffer zones. These strips, kept as free of vegetation as possible, are intended to reduce combustible material between forest areas, roads, homes and critical infrastructure. This can slow the spread of flames and give emergency crews room to carry out firefighting operations. Franceinfo reports from the fire zone on erratic fire behavior that can intensify itself under unfavorable conditions.However, such protective strips cannot stop a major wildfire in every case. In strong winds, sparks and burning plant material can sometimes be carried across cleared areas. Even so, firebreaks make access...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 14:30

Wildfires in Gironde: Evacuees Help One Another

Bordeaux - 27 July 2026: Due to the devastating wildfires in Gironde, numerous people are still waiting for permission to return to their homes. According to the latest figures, around 220,000 people have been evacuated as a precaution since the crisis began. For many, it remains unclear when they will be allowed to return: emergency services are still assessing fire hotspots, smoke conditions and the safety of transport routes.In reception centers and temporary shelters, spontaneous solidarity has emerged among evacuees alongside state assistance. People are sharing meals, helping families find their way around and looking after those under particular strain. Psychological support is also being provided. The hurried escape, separation from their homes and ongoing uncertainty are taking a toll on many of those affected.The large number of evacuees is placing particular pressure on the Bordeaux region. According to Euronews, between 5,000 and 6,000 people have been accommodated at the Parc des Expositions alone. Municipalities, emergency services and security forces are organizing sleeping arrangements, food supplies and the dissemination of...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 14:16

Gironde: Businesses Affected by Wildfires Can Apply for Short-Time Work

Bordeaux - 27.07.2026: Companies whose operations have been affected by the wildfires in southwestern France can apply for short-time work. Economy Minister Roland Lescure announced the measure on Monday after a crisis meeting with representatives of the regional economy. It is intended to help businesses that have to temporarily reduce or halt their work due to evacuations, access restrictions or direct fire damage.More than 13,000 companies in Gironde alone were affected by evacuations, Lescure said. Many are currently unable to maintain their regular business operations. The minister pointed to closed warehouses, restricted transport routes and the loss of business premises in the threatened areas. Tourism is also suffering considerably from the ongoing protective measures.However, short-time work is not granted automatically. According to the Bordeaux Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry, companies must demonstrate in their application the direct link between an official order and the reduction or interruption of their activity. This applies to businesses in evacuation and restricted zones as well as to companies outside those areas if preventive...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 14:00

Fibre Excellence: Tarascon to Be Liquidated, Saint-Gaudens Given Final Deadline

Toulouse - 27/07/2026: On Monday, the Toulouse Commercial Court ruled on the future of troubled pulp producer Fibre Excellence. The plant in Tarascon is to be liquidated, while the court rejected the takeover bid by entrepreneur Matthieu Pigasse. For the second French site in Saint-Gaudens, however, a short deadline remains: by July 29, 2026, the offer of another industrial company is to be examined.Fibre Excellence operates two pulp mills, in Tarascon in the Bouches-du-Rhone department and in Saint-Gaudens in Haute-Garonne. The company has been under court-supervised restructuring proceedings since April 27, 2026. Production at both sites had already come to a halt in the spring....

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 13:46

Philippe Brun calls for civil protection investment plan after wildfires

Paris - 27 July 2026: In light of the severe wildfires in southwestern France, Socialist MP Philippe Brun has called for a comprehensive investment programme for civil protection. In an interview with Franceinfo, the parliamentarian from the Eure department described the situation of those affected as an absolute horror. He accused the government of failing to respond adequately to a danger that had long been apparent. Brun is also a candidate in the Socialist primary.His criticism comes at a time of acute crisis for the government. According to the Interior Ministry, more than 50,000 hectares nationwide had been affected by fires by 24 July; at...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 13:30

Three injured in knife attack at Porte de Clichy – Suspect arrested

Paris - 27/07/2026: Three people were injured in an attack involving bladed weapons at Porte de Clichy in northwestern Paris on Monday morning. According to the Paris Police Prefecture, the incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. Emergency services initially treated the injured at the scene before taking them to hospitals. The authority did not initially provide further details about their condition.Police arrested a man suspected of attacking the three people. According to the information released so far, he was allegedly carrying two bladed weapons. His identity and age were not disclosed, nor were any possible statements he may have made to investigators. It is also...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 13:16

Wildfires weigh on the economy in southwestern France

Paris - 27 July 2026: The wildfires that have been raging since last week in Gironde and the Landes department will place a considerable burden on the regional economy, according to Economy Minister Roland Lescure. Speaking in Paris on Monday, Lescure described the situation as an economic shock for the particularly hard-hit area. Trade Minister Serge Papin also expects disruptions to tourism during the peak season.The economic impact stems above all from the scale of the fires in a region whose coastal resorts, campsites, holiday accommodation and service businesses are usually heavily booked in July and August. Evacuations, access restrictions and the protection of threatened...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 13:01

Court Rejects Pigasse’s Rescue Bid for Fibre Excellence

Toulouse - 27/07/2026: The Toulouse Commercial Court on Monday rejected financial investor Matthieu Pigasse's takeover bid for Fibre Excellence. The pulp producer has been in court-supervised restructuring proceedings since April. The plants affected are in Saint-Gaudens, in the Haute-Garonne department, and Tarascon, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department, employing around 670 people in total.According to the lawyer for the social and economic committee of Fibre Excellence, the court declared the bid inadmissible because the conditions precedent it contained had not been met. Pigasse's Combat Holding group had presented a financing plan worth more than EUR 90 million and pledged to preserve both sites and all jobs. However, several contributions from private and public partners were not sufficiently secured, according to the information available.The dispute had recently focused primarily on the economic conditions for a restart. The investors demanded reliable arrangements for energy supply, the handling of CO2 certificates and the delivery of wood to the plants. Following a debate in the Senate, the French government referred to aid already pledged, loan guarantees...

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 12:46

Investigators suspect construction site as origin of fire near Bordeaux

Saumos - 27 July 2026: The devastating forest fire in Gironde may have been triggered by work on a high-voltage power line. According to initial findings, the fire's point of origin can apparently be traced to a construction site near Saumos where work was being carried out shortly before the blaze broke out. This was announced by Bordeaux public prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul on Monday. However, the exact cause has not yet been established.According to the public prosecutor's office, the fire broke out around midday on Wednesday, 22 July. At that time, employees of a company were carrying out vegetation-clearing work near a high-voltage power line....

Aktuell Read 27.07.2026 12:30

Wildfire near Bordeaux stable for now – Heatwave to raise risk from Tuesday

Bordeaux - 27/07/2026: According to Franceinfo, the major vegetation fire in the Bordeaux area did not spread significantly further overnight from Sunday to Monday. After several days in which the fire had advanced, the situation therefore remained stable for the time being. However, this is not an all-clear: a heatwave is expected from Tuesday, July 28, which could make firefighting operations more difficult and increase the risk of the fire spreading again.High temperatures draw further moisture from grass, shrubs and forest soils. Under such conditions, previously undetected smoldering hotspots can flare up again; wind can also carry sparks beyond areas that have already been secured....

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