Church Moves Quickly Amid Raging Wildfires in France and Spain

With wildfires bearing down on Bordeaux, France, and surrounding areas, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have moved quickly to provide support to those evacuated from their homes and to firefighters on the front lines.

An emergency reception center was quickly opened in the Church’s Lormont chapel to accommodate evacuees. The building provided a place to sleep on the first nights after evacuation. 

Firefighters have made encouraging progress in slowing the fire’s advance over the past two days in favorable weather conditions, although it remains active and is not yet contained. However, another heat wave, with temperatures approaching 40 C, and stronger winds are expected over the next few days, so the situation remains critical.

Three Church congregations have been directly affected, with nearly one entire ward (Eysines) evacuated. Approximately 200 Church members have been displaced and have been welcomed into the homes of other members or temporarily accommodated at the Lormont meetinghouse.

The Church of Jesus Christ’s response has been directed primarily to three areas of need:

• Providing the Lormont chapel as a refuge and place to sleep, and food for those evacuated from their homes.
• Supporting evacuees at two other reception centers nearby with food, clothing, and other essential supplies. Members have been helping sort donations and identify unmet needs to ensure assistance reaches those affected.
• Supporting firefighters on the frontlines. The Church has acquired several trucks, which have been loaded with large water containers to relieve firefighters. 

Senior Church leaders in the area, including Area President Elder Rubén V. Alliaud, Area Seventies, and representatives of the Welfare and Self-Reliance Department, are working to support Bordeaux Stake President Julien Raveneau and Bishop Tom Darguence, who are directing and coordinating local efforts.

“Even though the fire seems more stable now than at its peak, the combination of enormous burned areas, destroyed homes, mass evacuations and another heat wave means this is far from over,” said President Alliaud. “We want our members to be prepared.”

With more than 225,000 people evacuated across the region, this is one of the largest wildfire emergencies France has faced in recent history.

In Spain, the other area in western Europe hit by wildfires, the emergency remains serious but is showing cautious signs of improvement. More than 60,000 people were evacuated at the height of the crisis around Madrid and Ávila, although many residents have now been allowed to return as several major fires have come under control.

The Church is evaluating humanitarian needs with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the area.