Communities in south-western France are recovering from the Gironde wildfire, the country's largest wildfire since the 1949 Landes forest fire. The fire broke out in the Gironde department on July 22, 2026 and went on to burn about 42,000 hectares, at one point burning about 15 kilometers from Bordeaux.
As the fire spread, municipalities across Gironde were evacuated. Nearly 220,000 people were forced from their homes, an evacuation the French Red Cross described as a first for France. About 150 homes were destroyed in Le Porge, and more than 110 firefighters were injured fighting the blaze. No civilians were killed.
The French Red Cross sent volunteers from across the country to reinforce its local teams and support evacuated residents. World Central Kitchen responded in Bordeaux from July through August, working with local restaurants and partners to cook for evacuated families and first responders, including people sheltering at the city's exhibition center.
To support families affected by the fire, visit the Gironde wildfire disaster page, or explore Disaster Relief Organizations to find other ways to help.
