Gironde Wildfire Stabilized After Burning 42,000 Hectares and Evacuating 220,000

The Saumos fire in Gironde, France stabilized on July 28, 2026 after burning 42,000 hectares across 23 communes. Nearly 220,000 people were evacuated — among the largest wildfire displacements in French history. Gironde escalated from orange to red alert between July 7 and 21. Authorities have not yet authorized evacuees to return, and the situation was described as "very unpredictable."