French wildfire update August 3: fires continue in Var and Gironde

Several major wildfires across France that are yet to be extinguished risk new blazes starting today, as high temperatures and strong winds at the start of the week bring difficult conditions. 

A major fire in the Var that began on Friday (July 31) has burned around 1,800 hectares and “is currently neither under control nor contained,” said spokesperson for the Var firefighters service Stéphane Nepper to FranceInfo on Monday morning. 

Spreading rapidly, the fire has destroyed more than 40 homes and damaged a further 30.

Overnight conditions were calm – two flare-ups were recorded but quickly extinguished – however firefighters expected more flare-ups within the perimeter due to conditions today.

Around 1,500 firefighters remain deployed to the area, with four anti-fire aircraft assisting them. 

The Var prefecture has banned outdoor activities in, and access to, several wooded areas today as well as preventing vehicles from accessing certain rest stops on the A57 and A8.

A similar story is reported in Gironde, where a massive blaze affecting 42,000 hectares of land has been stable since Sunday, July 26.

The fire’s perimeter has remained unchanged for a week, however it was only yesterday that the local prefecture confirmed it was “no longer spreading.” 

Flare-ups within the perimeter were reported over the weekend, and the fire is yet to be confirmed as under control or extinguished. 

Calm conditions in the area over the coming days – heatwave warnings are not implemented in Gironde – should help firefighters tackling the blaze.

A fire in the Aude department that began after a vehicle caught fire on the A61 burned 100 hectares before being ‘fixé’ (contained) on Sunday. Around 280 firefighters rushed to tackle the blaze and prevent it spreading. 

The motorway is now fully reopened, route manager Vinci confirmed this morning. 

In the Dordogne, five fires have been reported over the last 10 days, the most recent burning five hectares near Aubas. Authorities believe the fires may have been started intentionally. 

Well over 300 arrests have been made this summer due to the wildfires, covering both blazes started accidentally and deliberately. 

Around 90% of fires are caused by human activity, accidental or otherwise.

Are more fires expected? 

Authorities note that conditions today will be challenging in both the Var and Gironde – the site of the two largest blazes yet to be put out – as well as across the south. 

State forecaster Météo France has placed 36 departments on a heightened risk for forest fires today, as warm temperatures, low humidity and fairly strong winds hit several reasons. 

This will drop to eight by Tuesday however, as powerful storms douse vegetation across much of France on Monday, reducing the chance of fires spreading rapidly. 

A map of live fires can be seen in the map below. 

Red shows existing fires, orange fires that have been reported, and black recently extinguished fires.

You can find a live map at feuxdeforet.fr.