Story perspectives

Faulty power equipment sparks Gironde wildfire, 220,000 evacuated

8/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Gironde wildfire forced nearly 220,000 evacuations, the largest peacetime displacement in Europe.
Investigators say a faulty Enedis machine sparked the fire after three weeks of >30 °C heat.
Police have arrested almost 500 suspects, about 70 % believed to be deliberate arson.
Only seven of twelve government water-bombing planes were operational during the fire’s peak.
Four firefighters died fighting separate blazes that month, while no civilians were killed.

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Story summary

The Gironde wildfire forced nearly 220,000 evacuations, the largest peacetime displacement in Europe.
Investigators say a faulty Enedis machine sparked the fire after three weeks of >30 °C heat.
Police have arrested almost 500 suspects, about 70 % believed to be deliberate arson.
Only seven of twelve government water-bombing planes were operational during the fire’s peak.
Four firefighters died fighting separate blazes that month, while no civilians were killed.