Authorities ordered the evacuation of approximately 4,000 people from the beach resort town of Lacanau, near Bordeaux, on Tuesday as a wildfire rapidly advanced toward sensitive military and industrial sites. The fire ignited around 1 p.m. near the Camp de Souge army base, which spans roughly 2,800 hectares and is known for the presence of buried unexploded military ammunition.

Officials expressed concern over the potential risks posed by landmines and other explosives concealed beneath the soil at the site. A gendarme described the circumstances as "a very dangerous situation," underscoring the challenges facing emergency responders as the fire spread through pine forests surrounding the base.

In addition to the military installation, several aerospace and defense manufacturing facilities—including Dassault Aviation and Roxel—are located nearby, heightening fears that the wildfire could threaten critical infrastructure involved in missile and rocket production. Firefighting efforts included the deployment of ground crews supported by an Airbus A400M firefighting aircraft to contain the blaze.

The evacuation in Lacanau is part of a broader pattern affecting France and neighboring Spain, where wildfires this summer have forced the displacement of more than 360,000 people and destroyed close to 100,000 hectares of land. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as they work to prevent further damage to both populated areas and strategic defense assets.