What French communities have learned after a week of battling wildfires that threaten their way of life
Residents in the Bordeaux region of France are reflecting on the impact of recent wildfires that forced mass evacuations. The community is currently managing recovery efforts while firefighters continue to battle the blazes.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the human and social toll of increasing wildfire frequency in Europe, highlighting the strain on local infrastructure and volunteer networks.
"It was strange," said Delbreil, 51, a chef at Bistrot La Nautique in Bordeaux. He lives in a small hamlet near Saint-Jean-d'Illac, a suburb of the large city in southwestern France.
Every surface inside his home was coated with grey ash, Delbreil told CBC on Friday at a volunteer hub set up in a sports complex next to a middle school.
France, Spain and Greece battle wildfires that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee
'It was hell': French communities are on the front lines of Europe's new wildfires
The night before, Delbreil and his family were among the 144,000 people in France given the go-ahead to return to their homes. When he returned, he found objects in places they didn't belong — they'd been scattered in his family's rush to leave late last Friday night.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in