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??

@thetinsoldier They keep on evacuating all villages that are AT RISK. Meaning that if there is a risk of the fire getting to where you are they will tell you to evacuate. There have been NO civil deaths due to this fire (2 firefighters RIP) because the authorities are working according the principle "better safe than sorry" and are monitoring progression and wind. Military has sent out 500 staff to help.

There is no danger to your life but I would leave anyway since it's supposed to be a holiday and you don't live there.

I agree about getting stuck - but also, don't underestimate the lung damage from the smoke. Tiny, tiny particles get deep into the small vessels of the lungs. Air pollution is a known risk factor for lung cancer later on. You seriously don't want to sit in that smoke for two weeks. 5k is worth everyone's lung health.

Eating cheese while Bordeaux burns

It is a bit dystopian isn’t it…

Une baguette, les fromages et du vin s'il vous plait, aussi des masques pour le smoke <coff coff>.

Well said.

Over a thousand firefighters, the army, 9 planes plus helicopters. Also bulldozers have been building a firebreak. Firefighters from our département have been dealing with fires here and helping elsewhere in France.

To the OP, I'd actually stay but be ready to leave if needed, with a bag packed and the car nearby. Download the feux de foret app if you want to be able to check on things, but the phone alert system works well and evacuation orders will be given in good time if necessary.

If you'd rather leave and it's financially feasible to continue your holiday elsewhere, Gites de France would be a good place to look for alternative accomodation. Don't bother with Airbnb, it's overpriced.

I would leave. No question.

But really the question is can you relax right now, can you continue to enjoy your holiday?

I don't know whether you are at risk or not, but if you are smelling smoke regularly then your mind cant help but to think about possible danger. That may not be an issue for some, but as this is a holiday, a choice to be there then you need to consider.

I go on holiday to give myself ease, not to be constantly scanning for threat.

@TheBlueKoala

They keep on evacuating all villages that are AT RISK. Meaning that if there is a risk of the fire getting to where you are they will tell you to evacuate.

Exactly...and this AM it looks like the authorities are (rightly) playing the "you can't be too carefull" card by rolling the evacuation area eastward, because they have a system in place that means they can..not because they absolutely have to right now.

A handful of communes just west of the Bordeaux ring road are being evacuated but there's no sign so far today that the actual fire about 40 km.west of the city has spread much beyond the borders it had late last night.

FWIW I gather air quality this morning in Bordeaux is pants (so maybe a good idea to avoid if you can) but at least this AM Bordeaux isn't burning.

Air quality 2 and 3 hours away is pants. Let alone in the city itself.

What is this strange belief in the advice from the rentals company? What possible advice other than whether they’ll refund you they can provide than French official authorities can’t?

Stay put until advised otherwise, as your insurance won't cover you.
And go and buy facemasks now. If you can smell smoke the air quality is dropping and anyone outdoors should have a mask.

I know..

FWIW we're a couple of hundred plus km away and it's not great here this AM..

That said whether we're getting the muck from the Lande/Gironde, or from the Spanish fires over the Pyrennees I wouldn't like to say...

I wouldn’t be second guessing I would go . We have booked for Sicily and will be rethinking going .

I would leave because I would be worried about the risk of smoke inhalation. It's annoying to lose money but your family's health is more important. If I could afford it, I would stay somewhere else in France and still have a holiday.

I believe it’s becoming very hard to contain OP. Hate to quote the daily mail but just on the outskirts of the airport there are evacuations. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16004373/British-families-evacuated-Bordeaux-hotel-3-30am-wildfires-sweep-France-Spain.html

If you look back you'll maybe see I commented on the evacs near the airport upthread, bad form to quote my own post but:

"A handful of communes just west of the Bordeaux ring road are being evacuated but there's no sign so far today that the actual fire about 40 km.west of the city has spread much beyond the borders it had late last night."

That may well change as the morning progresses but I think (from national news) the idea is to get some of the civilian population west of the city out of the way/off the roads, not because there is fire raining down on them, but to allow the fire services/army etc a clear run of the area to do their work.

I would leave, 40k is nothing and wind directions can change quickly. I know if I was with my DH however he would want to sit it out. There’s no way I could relax and enjoy myself.

I would strongly consider leaving. Especially if you rely on trains or public transport to leave, there's a bit more flexibility if you have a car to use.

Why stay and be stressed? The money is spent so it is ridiculous to put yourself through it because you have spent the money!
My exh was like that / would do things he didn’t want to because he had paid for them…

I meant whether they will refund in the circumstances!

Watching french news now and the govt spokesperson is talking about the fake news - I would going by the official announcements NOT what online randoms are saying….

This happened to me in America and we hired a car and left the area.

I will never forget the stench of the acrid air, the sun blocked by dark smoke and miles upon miles of devastation along the highway. We couldn’t sleep for fear of a rapid change of direction.

Blackened firefighters came into the restaurant we were eating in and were served free meals and drinks before heading out into the fires again, and it just felt wrong to be there.

I cannot stand sanctimonious crap like this. It’s not crass at all to feel emotions at having an expensive holiday ruined. Complaining directly to those who have lost their lived ones or livelihood, yes. But OP isn’t doing this.