Le Porge residents accuse officials after Bordeaux wildfire destroys 183 homes

Residents of Le Porge, a French village badly hit by the huge wildfire west of Bordeaux, accused authorities of leaving their homes exposed while early firefighting efforts focused on the nearby Cap Ferret peninsula.

The blaze has burned 42,000 hectares since it erupted in the middle of last week and has destroyed 240 houses, including 183 in Le Porge. The village saw 12 percent of its 1,500 buildings go up in smoke in what the source described as France's worst wildfire since 1949.

The wider fire had already forced about 220,000 people to flee and remained uncontained on Monday, according to the published account. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez urged caution as firefighters tried to limit the blaze before forecast temperatures of up to 40°C and dry winds.

Tensions surfaced on Monday when a man shouted abuse at Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas as she visited Le Porge's community hall. Brocas told journalists afterwards that “now is not the time to play the blame game”. She said the fire's unusual and unpredictable behaviour made it impossible to know when it would change direction and move back toward Le Porge.

Several residents and local figures disputed that explanation. Cecile Boudou, whose elderly parents escaped their burning Le Porge home at night, called the response “a political decision”. Pierre Alexandre, who coordinated volunteers helping firefighters in nearby Le Temple, said the area had not been given enough firefighting units and vehicles and had been “sacrificed” in favour of Cap Ferret.

Le Porge Mayor Martial Zaninetti said residents' anger was understandable but said any inquiry should come later. He said the fire was out of control, spread in all directions and caused the worst damage at night, when water-bombing aircraft could not fly.

Residents also organised roadblocks to guard abandoned homes against possible burglars, while volunteers fed exhausted firefighters and rescue workers.