France: French police join wildfire operations in Gironde.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "FRENCH NATIONAL POLICE" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— NO ARCHIVE – NO RESALE - SHOTLIST: GIRONDE, FRANCE (JUL. 26, 2026) (FRENCH NATIONAL POLICE - RESTRICTED) 1. POLICE OFFICERS BOARDING VEHICLES AND HEADING TO WILDFIRE SCENE 2. POLICE OFFICERS OBSERVING WILDFIRE AREA 3. POLICE OFFICERS ASSISTING EVACUATION AND FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS 4. POLICE OFFICERS ASSESSING SITUATION AT COMMAND POST GIRONDE, FRANCE - JUL. 26 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "FRENCH NATIONAL POLICE" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— NO ARCHIVE – NO RESALE - French police continued supporting wildfire response operations in the southwestern department of Gironde as emergency services worked to contain ongoing forest fires. Footage released by the French National Police on Sunday, July 26, showed officers deployed near the wildfire alongside emergency responders during nighttime operations. The French National Police said officers were on the ground supporting firefighters and other emergency personnel mobilized to respond to the wildfire. Nearly 170,000 people were evacuated as the ongoing fire in France's southwestern Gironde department burned more than 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres), broadcaster BFMTV reported Saturday. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced in a news briefing that a total of 167,000 people had been evacuated due to the fire that has been raging since Wednesday in Gironde and is heading towards the Bordeaux urban area. Nunez noted that 57,000 people were evacuated around the fire region overnight. He also reaffirmed that 500 soldiers had been deployed in Gironde, with another 500 expected to arrive in the coming hours. He added that 18 aerial assets had been mobilized, including Canadair and Dash aircraft, and officially announced the first deployment of the A400M this afternoon. Nunez further noted that slightly less than 98,000 hectares (242,000 acres) had been burned across France as of Saturday with the progression of the Gironde fire, calling the figure a "historic record." Gironde prefecture announced that the burned area in the department reached 32,700 hectares (80,803 acres). The prefecture also noted that 54 firefighters were injured including nine evacuated who are relatively serious condition. Sophie Brocas, prefect of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde, told BFMTV that the threat posed by the fire raging in Gironde "remains very serious," and stressed that 140 houses were destroyed. Ministry of Armed Forces further announced a decision to put in place a large-scale operation and the deployment of 1,500 soldiers starting this evening. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen further expressed support for France as well as Spain while widespread wildfires maintain a firm grip on the region. "5 aircraft and 2 helicopters from the rescEU fleet are now deployed in France," she wrote on US social media platform X. She added that emergency maps are provided to support operations in both countries. Nunez also said that around 30,000 people had been evacuated and 550 firefighters had been mobilized due to an ongoing fire in the neighboring Landes department. In the southeastern Var department, another ongoing fire reportedly had covered 3,250 hectares (8,030 acres) and prompted the deployment of around 1,000 firefighters. Authorities told BFMTV that working conditions remained complicated and even "catastrophic" as swirling winds created "the evolution of a fire that can no longer be controlled." In Haute-Corse department, another fire burned through 900 hectares (2,224 acres) while its spread is estimated to be active.