Hundreds of thousands of people in France have had to evacuate their homes or holiday residences because of devastating wildfires hitting the country this summer.
While authorities in the Gironde described Friday, July 31st, as the “first somewhat optimistic day” since the fires broke out, there are still tens of thousands of refugees from the wildfires who are wondering what to do, where to go, and to whom to turn to answer a variety of questions, from the immediate to the longer term.
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It's also far from unlikely that more wildfires will break out in August, leading to further evacuations.
Temporary accommodation
Emergency shelters have been set up in Bordeaux for people who have been evacuated from their homes, while short-term property rental portal Airbnb is offering “free emergency accommodation to displaced residents” in Gironde and Landes.
It said in a press release that it was working with the Gironde préfecture; the mairies of Biscarrosse, Lacanau and Pontenx-les-Forges; the Communauté de Communes Médullienne; and the Union régionale HLM Nouvelle-Aquitaine to identify displaced residents and provide temporary accommodation anywhere in France.
Free accommodation is also available to firefighters deployed in the affected areas, as part of an ongoing partnership with the Fédération nationale des sapeurs-pompiers de France.
For the Gironde department, evacuated families should contact the prefecture’s Accommodation Unit: cod-accueil-hebergement@gironde.gouv.fr or their local mairie.
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Home insurance claims
Under normal circumstances homeowners whose property has been damaged by fire have five working days to file a claim with their insurance company.
But, given the exceptional circumstances in the Gironde, Landes and Var départements because of the wildfires, French insurance federation France Assureurs has announced that victims in these areas can make claims up to August 31st.
Furthermore, anyone who had to leave their primary residence at the request of public authorities will be reimbursed for any temporary accommodation expenses regardless of whether their property was damaged – upon presentation of supporting documentation, under the conditions and within the limits set by the insurance policy in case of fire damage.
The temporary accommodation period limit is set at three weeks, or the duration of any evacuation order, whichever is shorter.
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The federation has asked expert firms to expedite expert assessments as soon as access to the affected areas is restored. An expert assessment is not mandatory after a fire, but the insurer has the right to appoint one if deemed necessary.
It should be noted, however, that France is unlikely to declare any wildfire a natural disaster, meaning this insurance mechanism will probably not be triggered. This is because nine out of 10 fires are caused by humans, according to the government.
Talk to your insurance provider for specific information linked to your policy.
Pets
Emergency accommodation centres will, where possible, look after pets while local shelters and pet stores are helping out where they can, while some householders offering to host refugees from the fires also accept pets.
An SOS Animaux Gironde group was created on Facebook to allow refugees to leave their pets in the safe hands of volunteer residents.
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Tourists
At the end of July, local authorities urged tourists not to travel to the Gironde département, because of the wildfires.
For those people considering cancelling a trip to France, the next question is whether they will get a refund.
The answer depends on several factors, including whether your holiday has actually been disrupted, what type of booking you made and what your travel insurance covers.
Even if a wildfire is burning in the same département or region where you planned to stay, this does not automatically entitle you to a refund.
Travel insurers generally distinguish between holidays that have become impossible because of an official evacuation, closure or cancellation and travellers who simply decide they no longer want to go.
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But it’s not all bad news. As well as offering free emergency accommodation, Airbnb acted fast to change its policies on force majeure cases to include the ongoing fires for visitors and hosts.
As a result, “hosts can cancel stays without penalty and travellers can cancel their reservations and get a full refund if their stay has not yet started or corresponding to the nights not spent if they had to shorten their trip,” Clément Eulry, director of Airbnb France, said in a statement.
Businesses
The economic scale of the wildfire disaster has yet to be calculated. But businesses unable to operate because of the wildfires can apply to put their staff on partial unemployment – meaning they will continue to receive 72 percent of their net salary, some of which will be covered by the government.
On July 27th, it was reported that more than 13,000 businesses had been evacuated in the Gironde department alone, including 7,000 craft businesses and 6,300 commercial operations.
The president of the Gironde Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie (CCI) estimated that “around 14,500” businesses were affected by the fires, leaving approximately 130,000 people unable to work.
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The government has also reiterated recommendations to employers regarding the risks posed by exposure to smoke from fires. “Where possible, it is recommended to work remotely and limit travel and outdoor physical activity. In the event of prolonged outdoor physical activity, wearing an FFP2 mask is recommended,” officials said in a statement.
Meanwhile, professionals can appeal to the Commission des Chefs de Services Financiers pour les entreprises en difficulté (CCSF). Under certain conditions, the CCSF can grant companies in difficulty payment extensions in the form of a payment plan for their tax and social security debts.
Affected business owners can also contact their local Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie or Chambres de Métiers et de l’Artisanat for help and support.
Employees
Due to evacuations, road disruptions, and the dangers posed by toxic fumes, many employees have been unable to reach their workplaces. And employers cannot demand that their staff head in to work if they live in or have to travel through an area where an evacuation order is in place.
In such cases, partial unemployment may be applied for, or a worker could use up paid holiday time. Crucially, staff should talk to their employer.
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Self-employed
The Conseil de la Protection Sociale des Travailleurs Indépendants (CPSTI) has implemented an emergency plan to help self-employed individuals affected by the fires. Emergency financial assistance can be requested to meet the urgent needs of all those who operate their businesses in an affected geographical area.
Taxes
Income tax bills are due to arrive soon – but the government has said that the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) will be particularly sympathetic towards requests for payment deferrals from residents in affected areas. Anyone facing difficulties paying their taxes should contact tax authorities.
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Relief on property tax for undeveloped and developed properties due to the disaster will also be provided where necessary, the government has said, while taxe d’habitation for second homes that have become ininhabitable because of the wildfires and the tax on vacant properties in those areas will be automatically reduced.
French social security agency Urssaf will also be sympathetic over late filing decisions for small businesses that are temporarily unable to file them due to fires. You can request a deferral of your contribution deadlines. Penalties and late payment charges will be automatically waived.
The DGFiP will grant a reduction in the 2026 CFE business property tax to business owners whose premises have been destroyed or damaged by the wildfires.
Charity Appeals
La Croix-Rouge and Secours populaire are just two charitable organisations that have launched appeals to help residents who have been displaced by the wildfires.
The former’s goal is to “support the recovery” once “the immediate emergency has passed”. To make a donation, you can send €10 by texting DON to 92200.
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Secours Populaire, meanwhile, has called for financial donations “to provide the fastest and most appropriate response to the needs of those affected by the fires”, and has called for volunteers and financial support for what it has described as “the second phase of the crisis”, as people return home after the fires.
It said that mobile phone chargers are likely to be the most urgently needed at evacuation centres.
The Fondation de France, Secours catholique, Ici Gironde and Sud Ouest, and Bordeaux-based HelloAsso – as well as numerous other agencies – have launched appeals for aid.
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