In brief
A severe wildfire near Bordeaux–Mérignac airport claimed the lives of two French firefighters, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The fire, reportedly starting as a brush blaze, threatened airport infrastructure, causing flight delays. Local authorities deployed about 100 firefighters and specialist aircraft to extinguish the blaze. The incident is part of a broader wave of fires in France, with over 10,000 reported since the start of the year amid record heat. Climate change experts say Europe’s rapid warming fuels these extreme summer conditions, increasing fire risk across the continent.
A large wildfire near Bordeaux–Mérignac airport in south‑western France resulted in the deaths of two firefighters, officials announced. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said he had been informed by local authorities that the blaze was a "building fire" originating from a brush fire near one of the airport’s parking lots.
According to French media, roughly 100 firefighters, supported by specialised aircraft, were deployed to tackle the expanding fire, while the airport’s flight schedules were disrupted and some arrivals were delayed.
The incident comes amid an unusually intense summer heatwave in France, which has already triggered a record 42,000 hectares of burned land across the country between January and mid‑July.
President Emmanuel Macron noted last week that the number of fires has surpassed any seen since World War Two, and climate scientists warn that Europe’s warming—twice as fast as the global average—continues to heighten risks of such wildfires.
Minister Nuñez stated he would travel to Gironde to oversee the firefighting efforts and express condolences to the affected families.
Meanwhile, a separate blaze has been reported in the south‑eastern Var department, illustrating the widespread threat across French departments.
Across Europe, heatwaves have led to significant destruction, with recent major wildfires reporting casualties in Spain as well as extensive damage to land and infrastructure.
