Video. France wildfire forces 525 people to flee as Landes forest burns

Video. France evacuated about 500 people from the village of Luglon on Thursday, 13 August, as a fast-moving wildfire swept through drought-hit pine forest in the Landes.

Video. France wildfire forces 525 people to flee as Landes forest burns

The fire broke out shortly before 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, 13 August, and was driven by strong, shifting winds, reaching withina few hundred metres of homes in Luglon. By Friday morning, the Landes prefecture said more than1,100 hectares had burned. No homes had been destroyed, but residents and a nearby campsite were evacuated as a precaution and taken to a reception centre inSabres. Two departmental roads around Luglon were also closed to traffic.

Around 500 firefighters were deployed alongside40 forest‑fire vehicles, with aircraft including** Canadairs, Dash water‑bombers and Air Tractors** supporting the operation. Rising humidity overnight slowed the flames, but authorities warned that stronger winds could quickly worsen conditions.

The fire came during a severe heatwave, with temperatures above 40 °C recorded in parts of the Landes. It followed several major fires in south‑western France this summer, including a blaze nearBiscarrosse that burned about3,700 hectares and destroyed around 200 homes and buildings.