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France's First Fire Cloud Fuels 103,000-Acre Bordeaux Blaze

7/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

France recorded its first pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud near Bordeaux, a cloud that creates its own winds and lightning.
The cloud has driven the Gironde wildfire to burn about 103,000 acres (42,000 hectares) across a 20-km front.
More than 250,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate from Gironde and Landes as about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel and 1,200 police officers battle the blaze.

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Story summary

France recorded its first pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud near Bordeaux, a cloud that creates its own winds and lightning.
The cloud has driven the Gironde wildfire to burn about 103,000 acres (42,000 hectares) across a 20-km front.
More than 250,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate from Gironde and Landes as about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel and 1,200 police officers battle the blaze.