The Aporia · France puts out largest wildfire since 1949

French authorities declared a massive wildfire near Saumos in the Gironde region extinguished on September 28, two months after it began as the largest blaze since 1949, burning through 42,000 hectares of land and forcing the evacuation of approximately 224,000 people. Over 3,300 firefighters participated in this operation, which was described as the biggest firefighting effort in modern French civil security history. The blaze had smoldered underground for weeks after being brought under control on August 1. France experienced around 98,000 hectares destroyed by wildfires in 2026, marking the highest level since 1976.

Written by AI on 2026-09-29, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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In July, a massive wildfire erupted near Saumos in the Gironde region of France, forcing the evacuation of approximately 224,000 people as it threatened both the tourist peninsula of Cap-Ferret and the outskirts of Bordeaux. Authorities declared the fire officially extinguished on September 28 after it had smoldered for weeks underground following its containment on August 1. The blaze covered an area of 42,000 hectares, with about 37,296 hectares destroyed, making it the largest wildfire in France since a 1949 incident that burned around 50,000 hectares in the same region. Over 3,300 firefighters participated in this firefighting effort, described as the largest in modern French civil security history. In 2026 alone, wildfires in France have destroyed about 98,000 hectares, marking the highest level since 1976 according to provisional figures.

Written for “French Wildfire Crisis” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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France puts out largest wildfire since 1949 BORDEAUX – asserted

France → put → 1949

A wildfire that scorched 42,000 hectares in southwest France has finally been declared extinguished, two months after the country’s largest blaze since 1949 broke out, authorities said Sept 28. asserted

authorities → scorch → 1949

The fire erupted in July near the village of Saumos in the Gironde region and forced the evacuation of around 224,000 people as it threatened both the tourist peninsula of Cap-Ferret and the outskirts of Bordeaux. asserted

it → erupt → Bordeaux

“The Saumos forest fire, which burned 42,000 hectares this summer, including 37,296 ha destroyed, is now extinguished,” state services wrote in a statement, adding no deaths had been reported. asserted

deaths → burn → statement

The blaze was put under control on August 1, but continued to smoulder underground for weeks before finally being declared out. asserted

blaze → put → weeks

More than 3,300 firefighters took part in the operation, which officials described as the largest firefighting effort in modern French civil security history. asserted

officials → take → history

The blaze was the largest recorded in France since a 1949 wildfire in the same region that burned about 50,000 hectares. asserted

that → record → hectares

France has seen around 98,000 ha destroyed by wildfires in 2026, the highest level since 1976, according to provisional figures. uncertain

ha → see → figures

France puts out largest wildfire since 1949

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