Wildfire near Labouheyre, France (2026)

Wildfire near Labouheyre — NASA satellite

Yesterday's image: fire shows in orange and red. NASA MODIS

The story so far

Summary written on Sep 17, while the fire was still active. It has since ended — the figures above are current.

Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature over an active wildfire burning near Labouheyre, France, where the flames have spread across 200 hectares, equivalent to 494 acres, since the blaze started on September 16, 2026. Orbiting instruments have detected eight separate heat signatures clustered nearby in the past 48 hours, illustrating the current extent of the fire's spread through the landscape.

This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which runs from June to September. The broader national picture highlights an extraordinary year for fire activity, with 97,202 hectares burned across the country so far in 2026—a figure that stands 559% above the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire burned in France for 2 days. In total it burned about 200 ha (494 acres) — around 2.0 km². That size is an estimate from satellite hotspots, not a measured area.

In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.