As Spain lifted evacuation orders near Madrid, France continued to battle one of its most severe wildfire outbreaks in decades, with the economic toll mounting rapidly in the Gironde region. The Bordeaux-Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that 40,000 businesses have been directly or indirectly affected by the flames and associated evacuation orders, representing approximately 200,000 jobs.
Patrick Seguin, president of the chamber, described the situation as unprecedented. “We are experiencing an unprecedented situation. A mini-Covid. An economic catastrophe for our businesses, already penalised by the current economic climate,” he told Euronews Business. The French Economy Ministry separately estimated that around 130,000 employees were unable to work because of the fires.
Tourism and infrastructure under pressure
The region's tourism industry, which generates up to 80 percent of annual turnover during the summer season, faces severe disruption. Thirty-eight campsites and other camping areas have been evacuated, and four have been directly affected by the flames, according to La Tribune. Around 4,000 holidaymakers were evacuated from accommodation in Lacanau on Tuesday. The chamber warned that the entire image of the Gironde region and its tourism market is taking a hit, with broader economic consequences.
Beyond tourism, the fires have also disrupted strategically important defence sites, affecting operations at ArianeGroup and Dassault Aviation, as previously reported. The power grid required adjustments by France's national transmission system operator, RTE, which switched off certain lines and electrical substations to allow firefighters to work safely. RTE said its teams were adapting the electricity network in real time, in coordination with Enedis, to limit the consequences of any unavailability. As of Wednesday afternoon, no wildfire-related outage on the transmission network had been reported.
Emergency support and business solidarity
The chamber has established a crisis helpline for businesses, which is receiving a growing number of calls. Companies are primarily seeking help with cash-flow problems, deferred loan and tax payments, insurance claims, social-security contributions, and placing employees on France's partial-unemployment scheme. A Facebook group called Gironde Solidarité Entreprises has also been created to enable companies to offer one another temporary offices, warehouse space, logistics, and other practical assistance.
The French government announced emergency support on Monday for businesses affected by fires in Gironde, the Landes, and the Var. Companies affected by evacuation orders will be able to use the state-supported partial-unemployment scheme. A meeting will be held at the Economy Ministry on Thursday to provide “more precise answers” to affected companies, Industry Minister Sébastien Martin told BFMTV-RMC. Seguin urged the rapid deployment of resources, saying that “business leaders need strong signals”.
The fires, which have burned approximately 42,000 hectares and forced more than 220,000 people to evacuate since the blaze began, remained stabilised but not yet fixed as of Wednesday afternoon. Around 60,000 residents were authorised to return to their homes, although several flare-ups were reported as temperatures and winds intensified. These events underscore Europe's broader struggle with increasingly severe wildfires, a challenge that has prompted some countries to explore unconventional solutions, such as using beavers as allies in fire prevention.
The economic cost of the Gironde fires has yet to be fully calculated, but the disruption to businesses and infrastructure highlights the vulnerability of European regions to climate-driven disasters. As Europe confronts the rise of so-called sixth-generation wildfires, the need for coordinated preparedness and rapid response becomes ever more urgent. The situation in Gironde serves as a stark reminder of the economic and social costs of a hotter, drier future.
