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??

Check the news updates but Don’t take unnecessary risks. Five grand is nothing in comparison. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Friends’ son, wife and tiny baby escaped with their lives and lost their home in the Portuguese wild fires a few years ago. It spread very quickly and they only survived because a kindly neighbour further down the valley let them shelter with them in their basement.

Its been burning for a day or so, keep an eye on feux de foret but its not just one fire unfortunately.

I spend all my spare time on feux de foret at the moment.

The year before last possibly there were major fire in greece . It was all over the news maybe you didn't see it ? People were caught by pools with raging fires and running for their lives in flip flops !
For miles
Many said they had called their tour operators who said they would be fine . Moments later their lives were in peril.
Ie they didn't have a clue and no one can .ie call your operater but remember the geek people

What are the locals saying do you know? Is there a local news channel you can follow and understand? For instance, I am following on BFMtv, I understand French reasonably well, but I often copy and paste reports into Google translate.

I'm not there though, and if I was I think I'd be down to the nearest cafe/bar to try and find out what the local Mairie has advised, and if there is an evacuation plan in place. It doesn't look good though, so I think I'd leave and head either East or North, or just go home TBH. Travel insurance may or may not help if the fires are the result of an Act of God, or whatever get out clause they use for disasters like this.

www.bfmtv.com/meteo/secheresse/direct-incendies-en-france-evacuation-du-cap-ferret-emmanuel-macron-annonce-de-l-aide-venue-de-l-ue_LN-202607240038.html

Might be a useful link:

https://www.bfmtv.com/

Might your travel insurance cover you if you try to get a last minute villa in another part of the country?

This is very much My feeling

I'm surprised you ended up there to be honest - what was the advice before you left?

One of my neighbours is in Spain not far from a fire but it broke out after she was already there

40 km away is not far enough for me I would be very worried about all kinds of things

Bordeaux airport is closed.

I'd stay op. You are in self catering, nice food and wine and board games/books for a few days and see if the smoke starts to clear.

You still have French supermarkets and cheese.

Oh lord!

Airport still has some traffic inbound and, nothing yet on Eurocontrol but the Prefet (local head of government) is right now announcing restrictions/possible evacuations for communes just West of the airport (e.g. Saint Jean-Illac)..

It's a very fast changing situation right now.

It’s not? A plane landed ten mins ago and flights are still departing.

Come home. Grass fires move fast.

Two men died trying to control the fire there.

I only saw one article about the fire. There was no ‘advice’. We’re not on a package holiday.

Nunez stated in his speech about half an hour ago that the airport was closed, perhaps meaning it's closing at some point soon?

I would leave as soon as possible

Le Monde is saying similar. The situation is being monitored, and while the airport is open for the moment with delays, the situation is changing hour by hour.

What an awful situation, and very frightening especially for the residents, but it is the height of the holiday season too with thousands of French and foreign visitors around the area, which makes evacuation a difficult task I'd say.

Contacté par le Monde, un responsable de la communication de l’aéroport affirme que celui-ci n’est pas fermé à l’heure actuelle, même si le trafic connaît quelques retards. Tout en apportant une nuance : « Cela ne veut pas dire que la situation sera la même dans deux ou trois heures. »

Oh, I thought the train company might have said something

Train company here will send you endless messages telling me not to travel because it's hot!!!

Well, it looks like you might have missed your opportunity to get out so stay safe x

Could be...defo still open ATM (an Easyjet from the UK.just arrived) but given the tone of very recent announcements wouldn't be surprised if it shut, even if just to allow concentration on fire fighting operations by the water bombers that are in and out of there in daylight hours.

My brother and his family are currently being evacuated from a campsite in Biscarosse. They've had smoke in the air all day but their site was previously being told to stay put and all major roads locally were closed to keep free for emergency services. About an hour ago they were told to leave. No idea where they're going. So scary.

They really needed this holiday too
Kids have never been on a foreign/sun holiday and my SIL was being treated for cancer all last year (now clear).

I’d leave. If you can afford find somewhere else to stay that’s safer. Will travel insurance pay out if you do get put under an evacuation order?

@RoniaCheetahif they can just get in the car and drive north they'll be fine, there are loads if lovely campsites in France. Maybe they could head to the Loire, we had great camping trips there when the children were little. Le Ferme Prunay was one site we loved. I hope it works out for them. Sorry for hijack OP

I would definitely leave! Way too risky imo.

OP is using the train, so it doesn't look like they have a car.