Wildfires in southwestern France are threatening key defense and nuclear sites near Bordeaux, leading to evacuations and emergency measures at missile factories and military research facilities. The fires coincide with a forecasted heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), approximately 13 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) above normal, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor. French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation as the most severe recorded since World War II.
French Economy Minister Roland Lescure reported that over 13,000 businesses in the Gironde region have been affected, with many forced to close or evacuate. The fires are approaching missile and rocket factories that store explosive materials, with at least seven sites containing hazardous substances located within 12 miles of the flames.
Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, a town in the affected area, is home to a factory producing propellants for space rockets and strategic missiles. Another nearby plant produces ammonium perchlorate, a key component in solid rocket propellants. The fires also threaten facilities manufacturing parts for France's nuclear missiles and Rafale fighter jets.
ArianeGroup has evacuated employees from sites in the fire zone, and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) has closed its military research center in Le Barp. Officials have stated there is no risk of radioactive leakage as the facility does not contain nuclear materials.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that protective measures have been implemented around the sites due to the nature of the stored products. The Defense Ministry has deployed 1,500 military personnel to assist with firefighting efforts and secure strategic industrial sites. The wildfires have burned over 104,000 acres (42,000 hectares) in the Gironde region, making them among the largest in France's history. Approximately 240 homes have been destroyed, and nearly 4,000 holidaymakers have been evacuated from campsites and tourist resorts in the area. In total, around 360,000 people have been forced to evacuate in recent days as France and Spain face one of Europe's worst wildfire seasons in decades.