France, Spain and Greece battle wildfires that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee

CBC News gets a frontline look at France’s pitched fight against unprecedented wildfires in the historic Bordeaux region, where another heatwave is expected to fuel flames that have forced at least 250,000 people from their homes.\

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Firefighters are battling major wildfires across Europe, including the U.K., Spain, France, Greece and Turkey.
Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee, though France gave the go-ahead today for 84,000 evacuees to return home.
Fires in Greece killed three firefighters and forced tourists and residents to flee parts of Crete, some by boat.
Spain, battling one of its largest wildfires on record this week, has stabilized the two main fires of concern in the Madrid region and Ávila.

I’m part of CBC News’s team in southwestern France, speaking with people affected by the Gironde wildfire near the city of Bordeaux.

The fire itself is calmer today as a bit of rain fell this morning; the temperature has fallen from close to 40 C to a cool 31 C.

But now residents are assessing damage and reflecting on how the climate disaster unfolded. They’ve been helping out in their communities and firefighting teams non-stop since the wildfire broke out in Saumos last Friday.

In the coastal community of Le Porge, 183 homes were burned — some to a crisp.

Timothé Collin, 18, took us down the Avenue du Bassin d’Arcachon heading out of town, where nearly every house was ravaged by the fire. Anything spared was up to luck and wind, he explained.

“It’s like a lottery. A gust of wind can save or destroy your house and so it’s really hard for people to take in,” Collin told us.

“Some find it unfair, while others think it’s crazy that their house is safe.”

Collin and his family live closer to the centre of town. When the fire broke out Friday he and his mother, like many others, fought back the fire with their garden hose until 1 a.m.

“The flames were right by the house. They were bright orange and red and lit up the whole place at night.”

Their house was ultimately spared. They have been volunteering inside the town, serving meals and managing donations and anything else that needs to get done.

On the Bassin road, though, the fire came quick and strong. I spoke with a woman earlier this week whose family home was ravaged by the blaze.