Belgian surf camp moves 70 youths to Spain due to Bordeaux wildfires

The Leuven-based surf travel organization BoardX has moved 70 young people to Spain as a precautionary measure due to severe wildfires raging near Bordeaux, France. The evacuation was ordered by the prefect of the Gironde department, which is currently battling intense forest fires. BoardX emphasized that there was no immediate danger to their camp, noting, "We don't even see any smoke."

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We don't even see any smoke.

The wildfires have forced the evacuation of 220,000 people in the Gironde department. A pyrocumulonimbus, or firestorm, developed southwest of Bordeaux, a weather phenomenon that can spread embers and even cause lightning strikes. Since the beginning of the year, 116,000 hectares of natural land have burned in France.

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The fires are much further south.

Eddie Jiang from BoardX stated that the situation in Naujac-sur-Mer, in the northern part of Gironde, is less precarious, with the fires located further south. Nevertheless, the prefect decided to cancel all camps for minors. This measure also aims to ease traffic congestion on Bordeaux's ring road during busy weekends, allowing emergency services to respond more quickly. Family holidays for adults organized by BoardX in the area are permitted to continue.

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We were ready to anticipate potential evacuations.

The 70 underage surfers and their 20 monitors have relocated to Berria in northern Spain. BoardX utilized a bus and several cars with trailers for the move. "We were ready to anticipate potential evacuations," Jiang said. "In any case, our youth camp in Spain was equipped for large groups. Rather than stopping our guests' vacation, we are managing to give them a fantastic holiday this way." BoardX remains in close contact with the prefecture in Gironde and hopes the situation will stabilize to allow them to continue their activities in France.

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Rather than stopping our guests' vacation, we are managing to give them a fantastic holiday this way.