European relations minister Hamish Falconer stressed that “many Brits” were caught up in the devastating blazes around Bordeaux in France and Madrid in Spain. He urged British citizens to follow the advice of local authorities and keep updated on travel advice, which is “changing regularly”.
Evacuations and closures
The hotel zone around Bordeaux airport has been closed for accommodation, though flights were still landing and departing. Some Britons on holiday in the Cap Ferret resort in south-west France were given just 30 minutes to join a major evacuation days ago. Massive forest fires have forced the evacuation of 200,000 people in south-western France and central Spain, including 141,000 in the Gironde and Landes departments in France.
Impact on British nationals
Falconer said it was an “incredibly fast moving situation” in both countries and that there were “many British nationals who are affected”. The Foreign Office has set up hotlines to help stranded Britons on the European mainland and to offer advice. However, some British citizens were saying there is a lack of support. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “My thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in Europe. I am in touch with my French and Spanish counterparts about the situation. British nationals should follow the advice of local authorities in the area, alongside FCDO travel advice.”
French and Spanish response
French president Emmanuel Macron was holding a crisis meeting as the massive wildfire in the Gironde department advanced to within around ten miles of Bordeaux. The wildfire bearing down on Madrid appeared to have eased overnight. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said countries needed to ramp up their defences against wildfires, as authorities in Valencia confirmed the death of a man in a blaze. Two firefighters were killed near Bordeaux, 42 have been injured and hundreds of homes destroyed. Éléonore Caroit, the minister for international partnerships, said that although France was facing an “exceptionally intense” fire season, tourists should visit as long as they remain well-informed. She said: “It’s more than an incident, it really is a tragedy, nearly 50,000 hectares have been burned this year. It’s significantly worse than last year and even 2022, which was the worst year we had had. You have entire areas that are fine, you’re seeing similar phenomena in Spain and other countries. I’m in Paris and nothing is happening, and most other regions are OK, so do please come to France and do not cancel your travel plans. But wherever you are, please do be advised as to what might be happening.” She also said the French army had been deployed to help tackle the wildfires, which now number 32, and that France’s response was being bolstered by their EU membership, with other EU nations sending planes and helicopters.
Local accounts
A British restaurant owner in Bordeaux told how the city has been left “full of smoke and ash” and residents were wearing masks if they go outside. Lance Attwood, 58, who owns Sweeney Todd’s in Bordeaux city centre, said: “It’s not really conducive to coming out. The town is full of smoke and ash, so there’s a big drop in business, people are just walking around town in masks. Our biggest concern is people’s safety and the safety of the emergency services.” Mr Attwood, who has lived in Bordeaux for 25 years, said friends who had been evacuated were focusing on recovering sentimental belongings and finding alternative living arrangements. He encouraged people to donate dry food with a long shelf-life to local charities to help those affected.
