- On 27 July 2026, France Assureurs (the French insurers' federation) and the government jointly announced exceptional measures for policyholders affected by the wildfires in Gironde, Landes, and Var
- The standard 5-business-day deadline to declare a fire insurance claim is extended to at least 31 August 2026 for those affected
- Insurers will reimburse up to three weeks of rehousing costs for anyone evacuated from their main home on official orders — even if their property wasn't actually damaged, as long as access remains prohibited
- This is confirmed as an extension of the ordinary fire-claim process, not a switch to France's "catastrophe naturelle" (CatNat) regime — the two remain legally separate
With wildfires having burned more than 42,000 hectares in Gironde alone and forced the evacuation of over 220,000 people, France's insurance industry and government announced a package of exceptional measures on 27 July 2026 for policyholders in the affected departments.
The Extended Claim Deadline
Normally, French home insurance policies require a fire claim to be declared within around 5 business days of the loss. For policyholders affected by the current fires in Gironde, Landes, and Var, France Assureurs confirmed this deadline is extended to at least 31 August 2026.
This is an industry-wide commitment from French insurers, not a change to the law itself, and it applies specifically to these three departments and this event. It's worth confirming directly with your own insurer that your policy and location are covered, rather than assuming the extension applies automatically.
This remains a fire insurance claim, not a CatNat claim. France Assureurs' announcement is explicit that this extension operates within the ordinary fire-cover (garantie incendie) process — it is not a declaration that these fires fall under the "catastrophe naturelle" natural disaster regime, which follows entirely separate rules and, for most perils, doesn't apply to fire damage at all. See our full guide to how wildfire damage is actually covered for why that distinction matters and what deadline applies if you're outside these three departments.
Rehousing Costs Covered — Even Without Property Damage
The second measure is broader than a simple claims-process extension. Insurers will reimburse up to three weeks of temporary accommodation costs for anyone who had to evacuate their main home on the authorities' orders, provided access to the property remains prohibited.
Two details are worth noting:
- This applies even if your home wasn't damaged by the fire itself. Many people were evacuated as a precaution without their property being touched by flames — this measure extends to them too, not just to those whose homes were destroyed or damaged.
- Three weeks meaningfully exceeds the usual limit. Standard home insurance contracts typically cover only a few days of emergency rehousing; this is a substantial, event-specific extension.
Reimbursement still operates within your contract's terms and limits, and requires supporting documentation, so keep receipts for accommodation costs from the point of evacuation.
Faster Claims Handling
France Assureurs also confirmed that insurers are reinforcing their claims-handling teams and asking expert firms to accelerate site inspections as soon as access to the affected areas becomes possible — intended to speed up the assessment and payout process once it's safe to inspect damaged properties.
What This Doesn't Change
These measures don't alter anything covered in our main guide to wildfire insurance in France: fire damage is still assessed under ordinary fire cover, not CatNat; the débroussaillement (land-clearing) penalty of up to €5,000 still applies if your property wasn't legally cleared of vegetation; and the tax treatment of any payout you eventually receive follows the ordinary rules for insurance indemnities — this announcement is about process and timing, not about the underlying tax or coverage rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the extended deadline apply to me if I'm outside Gironde, Landes, or Var?
Not automatically. This is a specific measure for policyholders affected by the current fires in those three departments. Outside them, the standard fire-claim deadline in your policy — typically around 5 business days — still applies.
Is this the same as my area being declared a "catastrophe naturelle" zone?
No. This announcement is an extension of the ordinary fire insurance claims process. It's explicitly separate from the CatNat natural disaster regime, which has its own recognition process and, for most fires, doesn't apply at all.
Do I need proof of damage to claim rehousing costs?
You need to show you were evacuated on official orders and that access to your home remains prohibited — property damage itself isn't required for the rehousing measure, since it also covers people evacuated as a precaution.
How long will insurers cover my temporary accommodation?
Up to three weeks, within your policy's terms and limits, for as long as access to your primary residence remains prohibited.
For more on this topic, see our guide to how wildfire and fire damage is actually covered by French insurance, or browse all news.
Sources: France Assureurs — press release, 27 July 2026 (claim deadline extension, rehousing measure, expert inspection commitment) · Démarches Administratives — coverage of the announcement · France 24 — wildfire scale, 25 July 2026