Photo, Video / Fire nearly wipes out French city, hundreds of houses engulfed in flames: "This is the avenue of despair"

A wildfire has left the French village of Le Porge in the Gironde department nearly completely destroyed, with hundreds of homes reduced to ashes. The once-thriving community now resembles a war zone, marked by charred trees, scorched vehicles, and thick plumes of smoke rising from the ground. Residents describe scenes so devastating they are hard to imagine, with entire neighborhoods turned into ruins overnight. The fire, one of the largest forest fires this year, erupted in the region and quickly consumed large parts of the village. Days after its outbreak, the former train station still smolders, while cars lie charred along roadsides. Kilometers of pine forests have been transformed into blackened remnants, leaving behind a landscape that appears apocalyptic. Streets are largely empty, with fire trucks moving through them toward new fire fronts. Between the charred trees, only fragments of houses remain visible. Among those who lost their homes is Ingrid, who managed to save her cats during evacuation but later learned that her house had burned down entirely. She described the loss as overwhelming, saying she had nothing to say. She and her husband had to flee multiple times, first from their home, then from temporary shelter, before finally taking refuge with family in Charente. The mayor of Le Porge, Martial Zaninetti, described the situation as catastrophic. During the fire, the entire population was evacuated, and the town hall was converted into a reception center. It has been confirmed that between 153 and 175 homes were destroyed, nearly a tenth of all homes in the commune, with the fire covering roughly half of the area. Firefighters focused on preventing the blaze from spreading towards the Arcachon basin and tourist areas such as Arès, Andernos, and Cap-Ferret. However, shifting winds and underground fires fueled by burning grass made containment extremely difficult. Fire chief Salem Maizi warned that the situation remained unstable, prompting additional evacuations. Nearly 220,000 people have been displaced across France due to the ongoing threat of wildfires. Firefighters created firebreaks using machinery to stop the spread of flames toward Lacanau, where many tourists were still present. Trucks transported large water tanks, and firefighters worked through the night to extinguish recurring flames among the scorched pines. The road known as Avenue du Bassin-d’Arcachon, which previously led to beaches, restaurants, and stone farms, is now referred to locally as “the avenue of despair.” More than fifty of the 175 burned homes are located there. The landscape is entirely blackened, with pine trees still standing but their roots burned, leading to expectations that they will soon fall. Telephone lines hang or lie on the ground, melted by heat, while columns of smoke continue to rise from so-called “zombie fires” beneath the surface. Among those who lost their homes is 69-year-old Yves Brugieregarde, whose house is now little more than blackened walls, a pile of shingles, burnt beams, and melted window frames. He recounted how he and his partner built a new life together in the garden and among these walls, telling a story of young love taken away by life, only to begin anew in 2009. Now, he says, everything has been consumed by fire, leaving him unable to recognize where the kitchen or bedroom used to be. From the ashes, he found only a few sculptures made from recycled materials. Yves believes authorities could have responded earlier, noting that smoke was visible around noon before the first aerial firefighting units arrived. He described the plume of smoke as a “black cloud shaped like a nuclear mushroom.” With his wife and grandson, he evacuated in the evening carrying only a bag of clothes, documents, and medication. He admits that if he had known what was coming, he might have stayed to defend his home. Residents of Le Porge increasingly express frustration, claiming their town was sacrificed to protect luxury properties on the Cap-Ferret peninsula. While the mayor avoids entering into disputes, many residents believe firefighting resources were redirected to key areas during critical moments. Local authorities are now organizing psychological support for those who have lost their homes, while efforts continue to find housing for families left without anything.