French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stark warning that the country is facing an "unprecedented" wildfire crisis, cautioning that the coming weeks will prove difficult for the nation. Speaking on Monday during a visit to the departmental fire and rescue operational centre (CODIS) in Bordeaux, Macron described the massive blaze currently consuming the Gironde region as an exceptional event that requires the country to remain fully mobilized.
The fire, which first ignited near Saumos in the Gironde department last Wednesday, has already scorched approximately 42,000 hectares, or 103,784 acres. The scale of the disaster has forced the evacuation of roughly 220,000 people. During the ongoing response, 84 firefighters have sustained injuries. Macron paid tribute to two firefighters who lost their lives while battling the flames last week, offering his condolences and expressing his gratitude to the emergency services.
The President extended his thanks to the wide array of personnel involved in the effort, including elected officials, police officers, gendarmes, military personnel, civil protection staff, healthcare workers, farmers, and volunteers. He also offered praise for the strong international solidarity shown by European countries that have provided assistance. Acknowledging the widespread anxiety and hardship caused by the fires, Macron noted that many have lost crops and are facing the strain of high fuel costs.
Looking toward the future, the President stated that France would eventually need to replant and rebuild its forests with a new approach to better withstand increasingly destructive wildfires. While the Gironde blaze remains the primary focus, authorities report that fires are also active in Landes, Var, and Haute-Corse, though the fire in the Hautes-Alpes department has been successfully brought under control.
