France evacuates Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire destroys 50 homes
A rapidly spreading wildfire on the Cap Ferret peninsula has destroyed dozens of homes and forced the evacuation of thousands of tourists, highlighting the mounting economic toll of France's record fire season.
Authorities have ordered the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula in south-western France. The drastic measure follows a massive wildfire that destroyed at least 50 homes and scorched 8,700 hectares of pine forest.
The blaze is believed to have started accidentally near Saumos on July 22 before racing through dense woodland. Driven by strong winds, the flames advanced south towards Lège-Bourg, threatening communities trapped along a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Arcachon Bay. Around 700 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft, remain deployed to save structures, though footage confirms at least one property has already been consumed.
Tourism sector takes direct hit
The timing of the disaster inflicts immediate damage on the region's peak summer economy. Mayor Philippe de Gonneville confirmed that 5,300 people were evacuated overnight, with the vast majority staying at local campsites. The wholesale evacuation by road and boat, combined with strict access restrictions for emergency personnel, effectively shuts down the local tourism sector.
Videos showed exhausted evacuees resting on camp beds inside a community hall after authorities forced them out of residential areas and holiday sites. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 80 homes were damaged in total, although no fatalities have been recorded. However, the localized devastation at Cap Ferret is merely a fraction of a much wider national crisis.
A national crisis deepens
France is currently enduring its third heatwave of 2026, creating the dry conditions for an exceptionally active fire season. According to Nunez, more than 12,500 wildfires have broken out nationwide since the start of the year. These incidents have burned over 44,000 hectares of land.
For European policymakers and insurers, the repeated displacement of thousands of residents and tourists alongside the destruction of coastal property underscores a growing financial liability. The escalating cost of wildfire suppression and economic disruption demands increased attention as extreme weather becomes a regular constraint on public life.
