Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated due to a fast-moving wildfire in Pyrénées-Orientales that has burnt more than 4,500 hectares of land since it broke out on Saturday evening.
The blaze, near Trévillach, 30km west of Perpignan, is France's largest of the summer to date and remains out of control.
It has forced the Tour de France to restrict public access along part of Monday's route.
Firefighters are also tackling major wildfires in Gard, Hérault and Drôme.
Seven Mediterranean departments are on the highest forest fire risk alert on July 6, as hot, dry and windy conditions continue to fuel new outbreaks.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the country was facing "a complicated fire season" that had started around a month earlier than usual.
Nearly 7,000 wildfire outbreaks have been recorded in France since the start of the fire season, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on July 2.
Wildfires in France as of 11:45 on July 6. Red flame icons sites where firemen are already present, orange icons indicate new fires, black icons indicate extinguished firesfeuxdeforet.fr
Largest fire continues to spread
Around 700 firefighters, supported by 200 vehicles and nine aircraft, are battling the wildfire in Pyrénées-Orientales. The department’s prefect said it was "gigantic", fuelled by strong winds, intense heat and exceptionally dry air.
The prefect said the fire had made little progress overnight thanks to calmer conditions, but warned that deteriorating weather during the day could reignite its advance.
Residents in 26 communes - around 10,000 people - have been asked to evacuate. Two people remain in a serious condition, including one firefighter and one local resident who suffered severe burns.
The wildfire has also affected the Tour de France, with Monday's third stage through the Pyrénées-Orientales taking place without spectators on the French section of the route, including at the finish, to allow emergency services to concentrate on firefighting operations.
Other fires across southern France
Firefighters are also responding to several other significant blazes:
Gard: A wildfire near Lédenon is now under control after burning more than 540 hectares, although it is far from extinguished. Firefighters are continuing to secure the perimeter and create new access routes using bulldozers. The A9 motorway, closed during the fire, has reopened.
Hérault: A fire at Carlencas-et-Levas, north of Béziers, has burned around 250 hectares. Twenty-five people were evacuated, one house was damaged and a high-voltage electricity line was affected. The fire remains active in difficult terrain. One firefighter suffered burns after falling during operations and was taken to Montpellier University Hospital.
Drôme: A long-running wildfire near Die, first sparked by lightning in late June, has flared up again. It has now burned around 450 hectares, with authorities saying strong winds and renewed heat made Sunday and overnight conditions particularly difficult.
Aude: A wildfire at Capendu that mobilised around 240 firefighters has been brought under control after burning 40 hectares.
Ariège: A fire near Varilhes, in the north of the department between Pamiers and Foix, has been extinguished after an overnight operation, with road and rail traffic returning to normal.
Laurent Nuñez said more than 11,000 hectares have already burned in France since the start of the year, compared with 5,700 hectares at the same point in 2025.
For real-time information on ongoing wildfires in France visit the website of monitoring service feuxdeforet.fr
