British family urgently flees flames in France: The pink sky that looked like sunset was actually fire

A British couple with three children was forced to leave quickly from a holiday area in southwestern France, as massive wildfires were advancing toward the place where they were spending their summer vacation.

Venetia and Tom Bentley, along with their children aged 18, 16 and 13, were staying at the Sandaya campsite in Sanguinet, near Biscarrosse. They were evacuated around 9:30 p.m. on Friday evening, immediately after the emergency signal was activated.

According to Venetia Bentley, the family had just returned from what they considered a wonderful sunset walk. Only later did they realize that the pink hue and hazy appearance of the sky came from the flames and smoke spreading from the fires.

“We believed it was a spectacular sunset, but in reality the pink sky was a consequence of the fires. As soon as the alarm went off, we loaded everything into the car and left without wasting time,” she said, adding that they tried to keep the children as calm as possible during the evacuation process.

To avoid worry and panic, the parents turned the journey into a simple conversation, discussing what songs they would listen to in the car, while waiting in the long lines of vehicles leaving the threatened area.

The family headed for Bordeaux, where they managed to secure a shelter about 50 kilometers further along the coastline. The next day, they moved to another campsite, where, according to them, the atmosphere is clear and conditions are calmer and safer.

The case of the Bentley family is just one of many similar situations reported during the powerful fires that have engulfed southwestern France, forcing thousands of local residents and holidaymakers to abandon fire-threatened areas.