Overview
- Large wildfires in Gironde and the Landes have forced more than 40,000 people to evacuate and put the region in a critical fire-risk period.
- Prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul, who issued the order on Wednesday, instructed police and gendarmes to place anyone caught throwing cigarette butts or using fire in natural areas into custody and to seal vehicles used to commit the act.
- Ordinary butt‑throwing is normally a fourth‑class fine of €135, but the prosecutor said cases can be requalified as endangering others and fires can trigger far heavier penalties under the Penal Code, including years in prison and fines up to €150,000 for deliberate arson.
- Survey data cited by reporters shows roughly 17% of smokers admit to throwing butts from vehicles, and local witnesses and videos have fueled rising anger and calls for visible sanctions and camera-based enforcement.
- The order is temporary for the current high-risk period and is likely to increase stops, evidence gathering and possible prosecutions; authorities have not publicly attributed specific active blazes to individual incidents in these reports.