Clooneys forced to evacuate estate in southern France due to wildfire

Background: Estate in Provence

The Clooneys had repeatedly used the estate in the Provence region as a retreat in recent years. In December, the French government had announced that George and Amal Clooney, together with their twins Ella and Alexander, had been granted French citizenship. This deepened their ties to the country where they have regularly lived for years.

According to sources close to the family, the evacuation was carried out as a precaution. The flames had gotten out of control during the dry summer months, with local fire departments battling the spread with the support of firefighting aircraft. No injuries were initially reported.

Situation of the fire

Brignoles is located in the Var department, a region that has been hit repeatedly by major wildfires in recent summers. The combination of sustained heat, parched soils, and wind had rapidly driven the fire forward, according to the town hall.

After the evacuation, the family reportedly took shelter temporarily at a safe location in the wider area. The estate itself, according to initial assessments, was not immediately affected, it was further reported.

The open letter was disseminated via local media and was directed primarily at the family's neighbors and friends in the community. The Clooneys pledged financial support for households damaged by the flames and announced their intention to participate in the rebuilding effort.

French citizenship and connection

The twins Ella and Alexander, who had received French citizenship along with their parents, were also considered to have traveled with them. No further details about their whereabouts during the evacuation became known.

In the region, fires have occurred repeatedly in the past, sometimes triggered by lightning strikes and sometimes by reckless behavior. Authorities once again urged residents to follow the instructions of emergency services and not to enter restricted zones.

The French government had accompanied the summer across large parts of the country with travel warnings and appeals for vigilance. The fire near Brignoles is part of a series of blazes that have affected mainly the south and southeast of France in recent weeks.

No information was initially released about possible damage to the Clooneys' estate or the exact timing of their return. What is clear, however, is the message of the letter: the family sees itself as part of the community and wants to contribute to its future – regardless of the extent of the destruction.