Oscar-winning actor George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney have evacuated their 425-acre estate in southern France following mandatory safety warnings triggered by fast-moving wildfires across the Var department in Provence, per unilad.com.
The couple, alongside their nine-year-old twins, fled Domaine du Canadel near the town of Brignoles after emergency services raised regional threat levels. Extreme summer heatwaves and high-velocity winds have parched vegetation across southern Europe, prompting the deployment of hundreds of firefighters and specialised water-dropping aircraft to contain active fire fronts.
Dense smoke plumes and rapidly shifting wind patterns led law enforcement to clear out local residents and property owners as a precautionary measure while ground crews worked to establish firebreaks.
In a letter to the mayor of Brignoles, Didier Brémond, the couple confirmed their departure and pledged ongoing support to the local community regardless of the outcome. Representatives for the family confirmed that they are safe and monitoring safety directives from regional officials.
The Clooneys purchased the 18th-century bastide estate in 2021 for an estimated €9 million, establishing the property as their primary family residence outside Los Angeles and London. The family’s connection to the area was recently formalised after both George and Amal were granted French citizenship.
The Var region remains notably vulnerable to seasonal forest fires due to dense pine forests and prolonged drought conditions. Although emergency teams report progress along the main fire line, authorities have not yet confirmed when displaced residents will be cleared to return to their homes.
°Featured image by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images