A sudden escalation of the megafire ravaging Gironde brought summer holidays to an abrupt end for thousands on Tuesday. Approximately 4,000 vacationers were urgently evacuated from tourist accommodations in Lacanau, the famous surf spot, as shifting winds threatened the coastal commune.
Despite the dramatic circumstances, local officials managed a swift and orderly withdrawal. “We evacuated in the greatest calm, because we had a little time,” said Lacanau mayor Laurent Peyrondet, announcing the operation was “finished” by 2 p.m. “We acted very fast,” he added.
However, the order came as a shock to many who were enjoying clear skies. “At first, I thought my husband was joking, with the blue sky and the fires decreasing,” a tourist from the Doubs region told AFP, while packing the last bags into her already overloaded car. She praised the “reassuring” staff but, without panicking, resolved to leave nothing behind. The future of her holiday remains uncertain. “We’ll stop somewhere and see what we do. We might go to friends and decide later. We knew there was a risk, it’s annoying but not that serious.”
Disappointment and Dashed Plans
For many, the evacuation marked a premature and disappointing journey home. “We are disappointed, we wait for our holidays for a year and after three days we have to go back home,” one tourist told franceinfo from behind the wheel, ready for the return trip. Another simply summarized the mood with resignation: “It’s the end of the holidays.”
The sudden displacement left campers without vehicles scrambling. Laden with bags and suitcases, they boarded buses chartered by local authorities, which circulated through the campsites to collect stranded holidaymakers. According to the mayor, they were transported to Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station.
The disruption extended well beyond French tourists. International visitors, including English and German families, were also forced to cut their stays short. A German tourist from Bremen expressed his heartbreak to AFP. “Here, it’s like my second home, we were supposed to stay five weeks, it’s heartbreaking,” the father said, his two sons already seated in the car. For them, the conclusion was final: “The holidays are over. We are leaving, getting back on the road and going home to Germany.”
An Economic Blow in Peak Season
For local businesses, the evacuation is a severe financial shock during the crucial summer period. The director of the Airotel Ocean campsite described the morning as “a tunnel,” requiring the rapid evacuation of guests followed by staff. “The evacuation we wanted to avoid has arrived, we had escaped it but now it’s happened,” he said, anticipating a major “financial impact” with no reopening date in sight.
The megafire, which began on July 22, had already deterred visitors. “The campsite was half empty, we had 40 arrivals last weekend, compared to 150-200 in normal times,” the director noted. In response to the crisis, the SNCF is offering customers free cancellations and exchanges for tickets to the southwest until July 31.
In a contrasting message, the municipality of Lacanau is inviting tourists who have booked individual rentals, such as Airbnbs, “to enjoy their holidays.” Yet, the beaches, “still guarded” by lifeguards, remain desperately empty under the smoky sky.
