Barely 15 kilometres from the Gironde fire in southwestern France is the port city of Bordeaux. In the city that usually bustles with life in the summer, outdoor cafes and restaurants are now empty. Authorities are advising people to stay indoors.
The air is too bad to breathe, but today it is still better than it was this weekend, says Yann Schÿler, who is the Swedish consul in Bordeaux.
Schÿler himself wore a face mask when he cycled to work on Monday morning. The day before, he received the Swedish emergency response team from Sweden, who are helping with the firefighting efforts.
Do not panic
In recent days, 220,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes and holiday homes in surrounding municipalities. Despite the fire being so close to the city, Schÿler says there is no major concern that the fire will reach there.
"There is no panic. People are waiting, they are a little worried, but the authorities are very competent," he says.
The fire, which has so far destroyed around 42,000 hectares, is still not under control. According to Schÿler, it will take months to completely extinguish the fire.
We've had three heat waves and the soil is extremely dry. The slightest spark takes over the vegetation again. Everything is extremely fragile.
Chaotic week
A forest fire is raging in Provence in southeastern France, which has so far destroyed nearly 5,000 hectares. Swede Peter Bonde lives in the hard-hit village of Cotignac, where 55 houses have been razed to the ground and many people have been evacuated.
After a chaotic week, the situation has calmed down.
"It's still a large forest fire complex, but the main fire is under control, although there are many small re-ignitions. It's also very hot and we have a mistral wind, which doesn't exactly help," he says.
His house has survived thanks to its location east of the village. But the fire risk is still at the red level, the highest on the scale. Over 1,000 firefighters with helicopters and water-bombing planes are still active.
"Everyone is still on their toes in case it flares up again. We have the car packed and are ready to go if necessary," says Bonde.
Everyone has stood up for each other in this difficult situation:
A disaster like this brings out the best in people. People have been able to stay for free in hotels, and residents and firefighters have been able to eat for free in restaurants.
