Fire in Gironde: Three men arrested Saturday for endangering lives

In the Gironde department, which has been devastated by a massive wildfire consuming 32,000 hectares, three men were arrested on Saturday, July 25, 2026, on charges of endangering lives. Two of the individuals were detained for setting off fireworks, an act strictly prohibited in the fire-ravaged region.

The arrests highlight the ongoing risks and reckless behavior contributing to the precarious situation. Two young men, aged 19 and 21, working in the restaurant industry, were apprehended early Saturday morning in La-Teste-de-Buch. They are accused of firing fireworks towards a main road and a sports complex. The Bordeaux public prosecutor, Renaud Gaudeul, announced they would face immediate trial.

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for having set off fireworks in the direction of the highway and a sports complex

Separately, a 33-year-old man, identified as an ambulance driver, was arrested shortly after midnight in Lormont, a suburb of Bordeaux. He is accused of intentionally setting fire to bushes while intoxicated. He is scheduled to appear before the prosecutor on Monday.

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for having intentionally set fire to bushes

Furthermore, a 26-year-old man was apprehended in Lacanau for smoking, an act deemed dangerous given the dry conditions. He had reportedly lit a barbecue near his forest camp the previous day and will face trial in January for endangering lives.

These arrests follow the tragic deaths of two professional firefighters in Mérignac, near Bordeaux, earlier in the week. In response, the prosecutor's office has vowed to toughen penalties for fire-related offenses in the three affected departments. Such actions, including discarding cigarette butts, are now punishable by up to one year in prison and a €15,000 fine, reflecting the seriousness with which authorities are treating fire prevention.

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a behavior that is still too frequent