On holiday near wildfires - WTF to do?

[thetinsoldier]

We’re in Bordeaux, 40k from the fires. It’s really smoky, the sun is covered by smoke and it’s really quite scary. Have spoken to neighbours and they say the smoke is just being blown this way, we’re not in danger, but it’s horrible and scary.

What would you do??

leave! You may not be right next to the fires now but you will be soon and even sooner, you’ll be close to the toxic smoke

I would leave too. Sorry.

I'd come home.

Me three

Are you under an evacuation order? I think I’d prepare to leave just in case. When does your holiday end?

40k is not far when you consider the California wildfires were moving at 60mph at one point. (Yes I know, different terrain, wind patterns etc but still. Fires move fast).

Id be getting further away if at all possible.

I would leave. You're not going to enjoy being there so what's the point of staying, and it will be easier to leave now than if you get an evacuation order.

Flights from Bordeaux to Gatwick tomorrow morning are available on easyJet.com for £95 & tomorrow evening for £64 on BA.com. I would get out & worry about the cost later.

I’d leave. What are you staying for, are you even enjoying the holiday?

If you’re worried leave, you’re not enjoying yourself so there’s no point staying just for the sake of it! Have you only just arrived or been there a while? It’s only money, get yourself home

What kind of holiday is it? If you have a car you could relocate somewhere further away and hopefully enjoy the rest of your holiday. If you flew that's a bit trickier.

Screenshot

This is such a helpful post 👏.

@thetinsoldier
Dsis lives in Greece, they're prepared for wildfires as they have had many.
They have a plan, they know the terrain, they have a "grab bag" ready if they have to leave in a hurry, they also have a boat approx 3km away.
If you don't have any of these I'd leave and head to the coast or at least in the opposite direction to the fires.
You can always return when the danger has passed.
Leave it to the last minute and you could become trapped or stuck in traffic if everyone else decides to leave.
Don't risk it, leave now

Op i really symphatise. The worse that will happen if you come home is lost money and annoyance.
Being caught up In a wild fire however would be so scary and serious either drive far away from them or go home ..don't risk it.

Agree.

The last time there were bad fires and we had people fleeing and running miles in bikinis ,they said the wind direction just changed and within minutes the roar of the dragon was bearing down on them. .

@thetinsoldier

Are you actually in Bordeaux or out in the surrounding countryside?

TBH if I was in the city I'd agree with the neighbours that you're not in danger but if you are downwind of it all the fumes won't be pleasant.

If you're out in the forests then it (might) be a different matter.

Do you have access to French MSM/rolling news...they've been pretty good at updates.

We only arrived today 😭

Travelled by train.

Might call Vrbo and see what they suggest. Not sure if travel intensive would cover this, and don’t want to lose 5k.

i get it’s only money but…

and we were so looking forward to this holiday. Must keep perspective. It’s terrible for wildlife and everyone who has had to be evacuated.i just feel sad too.

We’re in a suburb of Bordeaux. Quite villagey. With a small wood next door 😬

I would relocate. At the very least keep your eye on the news and local conditions.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/07/24/tens-of-thousands-flee-forest-wildfires-in-france-and-spain_6755802_4.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo5gmi1z9uL0pP0nKIyzmXxHW9NMtwF2QebiIoMrtlEeUd52mxF#

5 grand! .
Well remember the geek wildfires the people directing people is the agents they dirextsd people wromg

Are you able to enjoy your holiday currently? If you can’t do anything out and about and you’re spending your time anxious about it then I would either come home or see if there’s anywhere you can relocate to further away.

Actually having just posted I see Nunez (French Minister of the Interior) has just commented that the fire is heading in the direction.of Bordeaux...TBH that was not unexpected because the wind was forecast to change this evening but it's still a long long way west of the city.

I would leave. Quite honestly the focus needs to be on residents not tourists, so aside from anything else I would want to make things easier for those trying to manage evacuations.

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