Gironde: the Department is demanding 11 million euros from the State after the July megafire

The megafire which ravaged 42,000 hectares in July in Gironde led to “unforeseen expenses” of 11 million euros, which the Department is asking the State to “compensate”, said Monday the president of the community, Jean-Luc Gleyze. During the fire which broke out on July 22 in Saumos, unprecedented in France in its scale since 1949, Gironde incurred expenses to “deal with the emergency”, explains its socialist president on Monday, ahead of an extraordinary session of the Departmental Council devoted to this megafire.

It lists major road works and road infrastructure, but also solidarity costs to mobilize agents, offer consultations with psychological doctors, prepare 7,500 meals or even support the rehousing of disaster victims for a total of 11 million euros, for which the community is now demanding “fair compensation from the State”. According to Corinne Martinez, vice-president in charge of finances, this amount is added to the “5 million euros already committed in March” after the significant damage caused by storms Nils then Pedro, the previous month.

An “excessive deficit” in the Gironde budget for the year 2025

Invited to speak during this extraordinary session, the regional prefect Sophie Brocas responded that the State would provide “aid to the Department which must face a certain number of expenses”. She also recalled that the State was taking charge of the reinforcements provided to the SDIS of Gironde during the fight against this fire, for a total of 33 million euros, as well as an envelope of 10 million euros intended for investments in 15 affected municipalities.