Gironde Megafire Stabilized Overnight but Not Fixed

Overview

• The fire that began on Wednesday has consumed about 42,000 hectares and forced preventive evacuation of roughly 220,000 people from 23 communes.
• Authorities reported the blaze remained “globalement stable” overnight Monday while stressing it is not fixed and that no return of evacuees is yet possible.
• The toll includes 240 destroyed homes and 84 injured firefighters, and about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel and 1,200 police and gendarmes remain engaged.
• Météo‑France warns of a new heat wave from Tuesday with temperatures near 40°C, a dry warming that risks rapid re‑ignition because convective fire behavior and months of drought have made containment harder.
• Large, simultaneous fires in Spain — notably Ávila with about 25,000 hectares burned, 60,000 evacuated and at least one death — are stretching regional assets and increasing reliance on military support, insurers and local volunteers.