A major wildfire occurred from 19 August 1949 to 25 August 1949 in the Landes forest in France. 50,000 hectares (500 km2) of forest land were burnt - and 82 people killed. It was considered the most deadly forest fire in Europe until the 2007 wildfires and the 2018 wildfires occurred in Greece, which killed 84 and 99 people, respectively. Since both events in Greece can be distinguished as multiple fire events, the Landes fire still ranks as the deadliest wildfire in Europe since record-keeping began. The municipalities of Cestas, Saucats, Marcheprime and Mios in the Gironde department were devastated by the forest fire. The very high dead toll from the fire shocked the country – and marked the starting point for the construction of the “Défense de la forêt contre les incendies” System ("Defending Forest against Wildfires" System).
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying Landes Forest 1949 wildfire alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
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