George and Amal Clooney Evacuated from French Residence Following Wildfire Threat

Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, have evacuated their estate near the southeastern town of Brignoles following a rapidly spreading wildfire in the area, local authorities reported Thursday.

The evacuation comes as France contends with some of the most destructive forest fires in its modern history. The most severe blaze has already consumed 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres)—a expanse larger than the city of Detroit—across southwestern France.

The couple, along with their nine-year-old twins, own the Domaine du Canadel property near Brignoles, where the localized fire ignited late Wednesday evening.

“At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment,” the couple said in a letter to the mayor of Brignoles quoted by People magazine.

They said they hoped all their neighbours remained safe.

“Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole,” the letter said.

Local authorities confirmed the authenticity of the letter. The mayor noted that while the couple was not subject to a mandatory evacuation order, they chose to vacate the property as a precautionary measure.

Firefighters survey the scene during controlled fire operation in a forest in Le Porge, north of the Arcachon Basin, on July 30, 2026, during wildfires in the Gironde region, southwestern France. In France, the Gironde region reported a second calm night and said the massive fire west of France’s wine-making capital of Bordeaux remained stable despite a spike in temperatures on July 29 as the fourth heatwave of the summer roasted the area. (Photo by Philippe Lopez / AFP)

The Clooneys' 170-hectare (420-acre) Domaine du Canadel estate features an 18th-century manor house, a private pond, a swimming pool, and extensive vineyards.  

According to firefighters and local officials, the wildfire near Brignoles burned through 130 hectares (321 acres) and prompted the evacuation of over 600 residents, most of whom were permitted to return to their homes by Thursday.

As of Thursday, 270 firefighters remained on-site alongside four water-bombing helicopters to contain the blaze. Four firefighters sustained injuries during the operation.