France Activates Emergency Alert as Gironde Wildfire Forces 20,000 Evacuations, Hundreds Flee by Boat

France activated its FR-Alert system on July 24, 2026, as a wildfire in Gironde, burning since July 22, swept toward Lège-Cap-Ferret. Roughly 20,000 people evacuated towns and resorts along the Atlantic coast. Hundreds escaped the narrow Cap Ferret peninsula by boat when road access proved insufficient. Two firefighters have died in France's July wildfires. France has requested EU firefighting assistance.