Several wildfires are still active in the south of France on Monday (July 7) after a weekend marked by high temperatures and strong winds. Authorities in several departments have raises the alert level to maximum.
Fires are ongoing in Estézargues (Gard), Portel-des-Corbières (Aude) and Fréjus (Var), where tourists are reportedly being evacuated due to the blaze's proximity to a campsite.
The emergency services also remain mobilised in Moux (Aude) and Fabrègues (Hérault), although the fires have now been largely contained.
State weather forecaster Météo France publishes a daily ‘forest fire’ risk map in the summer, which shows departments where the risk of a blaze is highest.
The departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Aude are currently at the maximum (red) alert level.
Fires around France
feuduforet.fr
In Var, a fire started at Fréjus near the Camping du Colombier at around noon on Monday.
Within one hour, 95 firefighters were at the scene.
By 14:00, they declared the fire was under control, albeit still burning on over two hectares of land.
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The Var prefect ordered access to the department's forested hills to be restricted due to the continued risk of fire.
The areas affected are: Sainte Baume, Monts Toulonnais, Corniche Des Maures, Maures, Centre Var, Plateau de Canjuers, Estérel, Iles d'hyères
In Hérault, a fire began in Fabrègues early on Saturday afternoon, spreading rapidly to neighbouring Mireval, forcing the authorities to order several home evacuations and cutting power to hundreds of homes.
The A9 motorway was shut in both directions for several hours on Saturday, disrupting the first weekend of the summer holiday getaway.
Motorway operator Vinci autoroutes reported a major backlog of traffic in both directions. The A9 was reopened at 20:00.
Fire crews worked through the night, and by 02:00 on July 7 the blaze was declared “under control” by Jérôme Bonnafoux, spokesperson for the Hérault fire service.
Nearly 400 hectares of garrigue brushland and pine forest were affected, although the final figure is expected to be revised slightly downwards after full mapping with drones and the Office national des forêts.
“The wind has picked up again this morning,” Mr Bonnafoux told Franceinfo on Sunday, “and though the temperature has dropped slightly, we are keeping watch to prevent any reignition.”
The fire had come dangerously close to the Goodyear testing circuit in Mireval, a site containing tyres, fuel and vehicles.
Employees were ordered to leave the company’s premises on Saturday afternoon.
“It was a long and difficult battle,” said Mr Bonnafoux, adding that this may be the beginning of a challenging summer.
Another fire was reported 15km away in Lattes, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In Aude, a fire broke out Saturday afternoon near Moux, reportedly triggered by a car fire on the A61 motorway.
That blaze also swept through 400 hectares of brushland.
Over 300 firefighters and seven Canadair aircraft were called to tackle the flames. Authorities reported a “favourable” situation by nightfall, but 200 firefighters remained on site overnight to prevent further spread.
On Monday morning, the fire was still smouldering, albeit under control.
Another fire was reportedly underway near Portel-des-Corbières in Aude on Monday at 14:00.
In Gard, a fire at Estézargues also started on Sunday, requiring the attention of 200 firemen, many of whom had just finished battling a fire in nearby Rochefort-du-Gard.
The Estézargues fire is still ongoing, but under control.
Continuing risk of fire
Authorities continue to stress the heightened risk of wildfires, particularly in southern and central France, where heat, wind and drought have combined to create highly flammable conditions.
At least six major fires were reported nationwide on Saturday alone, from Bouches-du-Rhône to Cher and Charente-Maritime.
A detailed map of ongoing fires is available at feuxdeforet.fr, which also shows recent fires across the country.
