Firefighters warn of ‘very high risk’ of blazes in Var

Southern France teeters on the edge of new wildfire breakouts today as four departments are placed on the highest risk alert for forest fires.

Extreme temperatures of up to 35C, strong Mistral winds, and low humidity have seen risk warnings implemented across the south.

The four departments facing the highest warning alert are Aude, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Var. 

Firefighters in the latter continue to tackle a blaze in the Gros Bessillon area that has now been burning for a week straight. 

Still burning – and yet to be declared ‘fixé’ or contained – it has spread across 1,850 hectares and destroyed over 40 homes.

Firefighters at the site warned last night that they “were preparing for a very high risk day,” due to weather conditions, after small flare-ups of the blaze were declared on Wednesday.

Several restrictions are in place in the Var department including the closure of several massifs and forested areas to the public, limits on works (including a ban on certain works after 13:00) and the closure of rest stops on the A57 and A8.

Other departments in the south to limit public access to forest areas include Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône (where part of the Calanques national park will be off limits), Pyrénées-Orientales, and Vaucluse. 

Exact information on restrictions can be found on the relevant prefecture website or social media pages. 

The Var and Vaucluse are also two of eight departments to remain on a heightened tier-three orange alert for heatwave conditions, which continue to impact the south-east. 

The maps below show heatwave alerts across the country and the forest fire risk map, both from state forecaster Météo France.

Funding for Gironde, farmer aid plan

A fire in the Drôme department that has burned around 240 hectares was declared ‘stable’ last night but not yet contained. 

However, the fire’s progression was extremely limited yesterday, and there are hopes it will be declared fixé today. 

Elsewhere, there are no new major blazes announced but several smaller fires persist.

You can check live fires at the feuxdeforet.fr website.

Authorities in Gironde have made €300,000 in emergency aid available to local mairies following the record-breaking 42,000 hectare wildfire in July. 

It will be used for ‘urgent repairs’ needed to help communes get back on their feet after the historic fire, including housing and infrastructure repairs or felling of trees at risk of uprooting. 

Local authorities will be able to apply for further aid if needed. 

The government also announced the creation of a national ‘summer plan’ for farmers, covering damage and disruption caused by droughts, heatwaves, and forest fires. It aims to improve access to aid and ensure “no farmer is left to tackle issues alone.”