Two firefighters were killed while battling a massive fire near Bordeaux Airport on Tuesday afternoon, prompting flight suspensions and a major emergency response. The blaze erupted from a building on Avenue Roland Garros, close to the airport's car park, at around 2:30 p.m., quickly spreading to scorch one hectare of land.
Interior minister confirms deaths
France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the two firefighter fatalities during a press conference. 'My thoughts are very much with these two firefighters and their families, and I will go there as soon as possible,' he said. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: 'I offer my condolences, gratitude and support of the Nation to their families, loved ones and the firefighters of France.'
Passengers witness chaos
Video posted to social media showed passengers disembarking from an easyJet flight as a column of thick grey smoke loomed behind them. Another passenger filmed the inferno from a bus, saying, 'It's burning like crazy in Merignac.' Helicopters were seen darting in and out of the smoke as around 100 firefighters, backed by specialist aircraft, continued to fight the blaze.
Flight disruptions and ongoing battle
Several flights scheduled to arrive at Bordeaux-Mérignac airport were delayed, while others were stopped from taking off. The cause of the fire, which is no longer spreading, remains unclear, according to the Association for the Prevention and Reporting of Forest Fires.
Wildfire context in France
The incident comes as a separate wildfire swept through towns on France's Mediterranean coast near Frejus on Sunday, threatening homes and forcing evacuations. Local prefect Simon Babre told BFM TV: 'The fire spread extremely quickly in the context of this heatwave and extreme drought.' That blaze had scorched about 180 hectares (445 acres) by Sunday evening, with train services between Toulon and Les Arcs suspended. The World Meteorological Organization had warned that record temperatures in late June would worsen wildfire risks due to sustained high temperatures, low humidity, and dry vegetation.
