France Pledges €12 Million Aid for Wildfire Recovery, Fast-Tracks Rebuilding

France is mobilizing significant resources to aid the recovery of the Gironde and Landes regions, which were devastated by unprecedented wildfires this summer. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a €12 million aid package during a press conference in Mérignac, emphasizing territorial solidarity with the hard-hit departments.

"This aid is available immediately," Lecornu stated, explaining it will enable local authorities to launch reconstruction work without delay and establish a recovery plan. The Gironde region, which suffered the brunt of the fires destroying 42,000 hectares, will receive €10 million, while the Landes region will get €2 million. The fires caused significant damage, with 261 homes and 180 professional premises in Gironde, and 180 homes and 67 professional premises in Landes, sustaining damage. Thousands of businesses were forced to evacuate, and many residents required emergency rehousing.

Recognizing the psychological distress of the victims, Lecornu also pledged to streamline the rebuilding process. The government aims to issue building permits within a month, or even less, to accelerate the return to normalcy. "I do not want public authorities... to be blamed for excessive bureaucracy that would delay this return to normal," he said. For complex reconstructions, particularly those involving natural risks like wildfires, the government will incorporate adaptation strategies into the planning, guided by the "Reconstruction and Adaptation of Territories" mission.