Major wildfires continue to burn across France today (July 10), with the largest blazes remaining active in the Drôme and Pyrénées-Orientales.
The wildfire near Die (Drôme) has expanded again overnight and has now spread across 3,700 hectares, while the year's largest blaze at Trévillach (Pyrénées-Orientales) remains under close surveillance after destroying around 5,000 hectares.
More than 11,500 hectares have burned in France since the beginning of June, with almost 10,000 hectares destroyed during the first week of July alone, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
The fires also resulted in the death of a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter in Savoie on Wednesday after being struck by a falling rock while tackling a wildfire.
Departments on alert for wildfire risk on Friday July 10Météo-France
All of mainland France has been placed on alert for wildfire risk by state forecaster Météo-France.
Wildfires in France as of 14:00 on July 10. Red flame icons indicate sites where firefighters are already present, orange icons indicate new fires, black icons indicate extinguished firesfeuxdeforet.fr
A major wildfire in Drôme that was caused by a lightning strike near Dieexpanded overnight from around 3,000 to 3,700 hectares.
Around 570 firefighters are now involved in the operation, with further reinforcements expected during the day.
Officials said the fire lost some intensity overnight but is expected to become more active again as temperatures rise.
Around 400 people were evacuated on Thursday, including approximately 350 campers from a campsite surrounded by pine forest.
Authorities said further precautionary evacuations could be ordered if conditions deteriorate.
Because of the wildfire risk, the Drôme prefecture has banned all fireworks displays between July 11 and July 20.
Pyrénées-Orientales fire remains under surveillance
Around 450 firefighters remain deployed on the Trévillach wildfire, which has spread across roughly 5,000 hectares since Saturday and led to the evacuation of 10,000 people.
Authorities said on Thursday that the overall situation was improving and the inhabitants of several communes previously threatened by the blaze were allowed to return home.
Although the fire has not yet been declared fully contained, firefighters have prevented any major further spread in recent days.
Several new wildfires also broke out around Perpignan on Thursday.
A blaze near Mas Bresson burned fewer than 10 hectares before being brought under control, while separate fires near Pia, Rivesaltes and Elne prompted evacuations, temporary road closures, disruption to rail services and the temporary closure of Perpignan airport.
Animals from a local SPA shelter were evacuated as flames approached the site.
For real-time information on ongoing wildfires in France, visit the monitoring service feuxdeforet.fr.
