Gironde Wildfire Stabilized After Burning 42,000 Hectares

A wildfire in Gironde, France stabilized on July 28, 2026 after scorching 42,000 hectares — roughly 420 square kilometers — across 23 communes. Nearly 220,000 people were evacuated, among France's largest wildfire displacements ever. Authorities have not authorized returns, calling conditions "very unpredictable." Gironde's alert level escalated from orange to red between July 7 and 21.