David Morton, a headteacher from Gloucester, experienced the terrifying reality of a major wildfire while holidaying on the Cap Ferret peninsula in France. Located on the scenic Atlantic Coast, this popular tourist destination has been ravaged by a massive wildfire, prompting a full evacuation order.
The wildfire’s severity compelled French President Emmanuel Macron to request assistance from the European Union, highlighting the crisis’s magnitude. Over 60,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the area to ensure their safety.
David, 53, was vacationing with his wife and sons when their family’s peaceful night was abruptly interrupted. At 3am, an automated alarm rang through their phones and the house landline, instructing them to evacuate immediately via the only escape route, the D106 road.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One, David recounted: “On Thursday, smoke was visible around where we were staying on Cap Ferret. We rode our bikes during the day and, even though it was quiet, the distant fire didn’t seem to be worsening. By evening, we saw flames seven or eight miles away but assumed it was manageable and went to bed. Then, at 3am, the urgency hit.”
Within 15 minutes, the family packed up and fled. David remained calm, informed by news updates, but reality struck as they drove past the fire. “We were about half a mile away, and the flames were towering—bright yellow, four to five storeys high—an entire forest ablaze. The fire was clearly uncontrollable, especially with strong winds potentially sparking new blazes.”
He described the scene as surreal: drivers with headlights on escaping amid falling ash—reminiscent of dramatic disaster movies. “We knew this was the real thing,” he said.