As wildfires continue to devastate the Gironde region in southwestern France, volunteers are stepping up to care for animals left behind by residents forced to evacuate. While firefighters battle to contain the flames, members of the local municipal reserve are going door-to-door through evacuated neighborhoods, particularly in the Lège-Cap-Ferret area near Bordeaux, to check on animals and provide them with food and water. Their efforts have so far covered cats, rabbits, chickens, sheep, ducks, goats, and other animals whose owners were unable to take them along during the emergency.
Volunteer Charlotte Darribat said the team is also trying to reassure worried owners by photographing the animals and sending them updates. Many residents, she explained, left in a hurry and were deeply concerned about the safety of the pets and livestock they had to leave behind.
The volunteer operation comes amid one of the most severe wildfire crises in the region's recent history. The Gironde fires have forced around 220,000 people to evacuate, destroyed more than 200 homes, and burned over 42,000 hectares of land.
Gironde prefect Sophie Broca described Thursday as “the first somewhat optimistic day” since the fires began, though she noted that two active hot spots remain. She confirmed that firefighting crews would continue working through the night to reinforce containment lines.
Fire commander Marc Vermeulen cautioned that it was still difficult to predict when the fires would be fully contained, citing the challenging terrain, weather conditions, and unpredictable fire behavior. Meanwhile, authorities have allowed around 84,000 additional residents to return to their homes as conditions on the ground continue to improve.