David Morton, a headmaster from Gloucester, vividly recounted his harrowing experience during a major wildfire on the Cap Ferret peninsula in France. This popular Atlantic Coast destination faced a severe wildfire, forcing the evacuation of at least 60,000 residents.
The fire’s intensity prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to call for European Union assistance via a post on X. David, 53, was vacationing with his wife and sons when they were suddenly woken at 3am by an automated emergency alert instructing them to evacuate immediately.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One program, David described the tense moments: “On Thursday, there was some drifting smoke around Cap Ferret but we didn’t think much of it. We spent the evening watching the fire in the distance, seven or eight miles away, and thought it posed no immediate threat. Then at 3am, an automated alarm woke us, telling us to leave right away.”
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He explained that they quickly packed and left within 15 minutes, driving along the only road out of the peninsula, the D106. As they approached, David saw “towering flames, bright yellow and four or five stories high, engulfing an entire forest.” The sight made it clear the fire would not be contained soon, especially with strong winds spreading secondary fires.
David also painted a vivid picture of the evacuation by car: “Everyone had their lights on as ash fell like snow, creating a scene straight from a disaster movie. We knew this was very real.”
Their narrow escape underscores the frightening reality of wildfires and the urgent need for swift action when such emergencies arise.