A British expat has told how her Bordeaux flat smells 'like really strong burning' as a massive wildfire advances to within nine miles of the French city. Karen Kissane, 51, from Newcastle, returned from a holiday in Barcelona to find her apartment filled with the pungent smell of smoke.
Smoke Fills Bordeaux Apartment
Karen said: 'We will be getting out just to get some fresh air, because, of course, the fires are a worry, but the air quality and the breathing it in is not pleasant as well. I mean, in my apartment right now it smells of burning inside. The windows are closed, the doors are closed, and it smells like really strong burning inside my apartment, which we all have to sleep with. When I opened the front door, there was ash in the doorway. So, there's obviously ash particles in the air as well.'
She described the city as feeling 'eerie' and said that when she got off the plane, 'the smell of burning in the air really hit me' and it felt 'really hot and humid, and there was wind in the air that was blowing the burning smell around'. She added: 'I could really sense that the fires could spread quickly because of the breeze.'
Officials Urge Tourists to Stay Away
Sophie Brocas, the prefect for Nouvelle-Aquitaine, said: 'We urge tourists not to come to this region, at least until the situation is under control. I encourage tourists who are already here to consider another destination.' The Foreign Office issued new travel advice on Sunday, stating: 'French authorities have evacuated campsites, tourist accommodation and some residential areas. Access to affected areas may be restricted and roads may close at short notice. Further evacuations may take place. If you are in an affected area, or planning to travel there: follow instructions and updates from local authorities and emergency services at all times, and call 112 if you need emergency help. Check with your accommodation or travel provider before travelling.'
Expat Plans to Evacuate if Needed
Karen said she will constantly monitor the situation and will take her two children, aged 14 and 16, to a holiday property about an hour and a half north of the city if the situation changes. She said she 'wouldn't hesitate' to make a fast decision. 'My priority is the safety of my kids and, at this moment in time, no one really knows what can happen over the coming days, and that's part of the problem. The unpredictability is very difficult to plan for. It could get better, or it could get a whole lot worse, and I don't like that feeling of not knowing.'
Karen revealed that some of her friends were forced to leave their holiday homes in nearby Cap Ferret as firefighters battled the fire. She added: 'I do have some friends who have holiday properties in Cap Ferret and the areas that are worst hit, and they've been evacuated. I know of people who were evacuated at 3am, and they literally had to pick everything up and leave. For anyone who's holidaying in that area, it's an, it's an absolute no-go.'
French firefighters are struggling to contain massive blazes following three heatwaves this summer, with another predicted for next week. A total of 65,000 to 70,000 British citizens live across southern France, making up roughly 43 per cent of the country's total British population. Fires are also blazing across parts of Spain, Italy, England and Scotland.
