Fire

Hairdresser suspected of starting 17 fires in Charente-Maritime

The woman was arrested after a series of fires in several communes

Firefighters in France launch new strike action: why are they striking and will it affect you?

‘Every seven seconds, firefighters are called’

Thick smoke and flames rise from a hillside fire with trees and power lines in the foreground.

Wildfires continue across Pyrénées as strong winds forecast

Several blazes broke out over weekend and are yet to be under control

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New wildfire spreads through 225 hectares in southern France

Critical day for firefighters battling to contain blaze in Aude

French senator proposes prison for throwing cigarette butts during wildfire-risk conditions

Senator Sébastien Pla said the current €135 fine is not enough to deter the behaviour

New life springs in Aude among 2025 wildfire carnage

A year after the devastating Ribaute wildfire, wildlife and plants are returning as experts study Corbières ecosystem recovery

Intense forest fire with bright flames and thick smoke over a dark tree line at night.

Arsonist in southern France jailed for five years for starting four fires this summer

474 arrests have so far been made this summer in relation to wildfires

Gironde wildfire aftermath spurs forest fire prevention debate

Questions grow over prevention, resources and forest safety

French government outlines aid for south-west France following summer wildfires

Fast-track rebuild permits, tax exemptions and tourism campaign to entice returning travellers

Lightning strikes historic church tower in south of France

Fire caused severe damage to 41-metre-high tower

Airport runways and aircraft sit behind a vertical video showing a dense black smoke plume.

Dozens of cars destroyed in airport parking fire near Paris CDG

Holidaymakers return to learn fate of vehicle

France wildfire update: Landes fire stabilises as heatwave moves east

28 departments still on orange alert

Landes wildfire: hundreds evacuated as firefighters battle 1,100-hectare blaze

Australian helicopter sent to help fight Landes fire

Briton launches campaign for free car ashtrays to help prevent forest fires in France

‘Let's not let a fire start in the first place’

Var wildfire continues with strong winds raising fears of flare-ups

Gironde fire contained and evacuees can return home. 12 departments on heightened risk of fires

Charred residential buildings stand amid scorched ground after a wildfire in Lege, France.

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

Since most wildfires are caused by human activity, this affects insurance claims

French farmers clash with prefecture over help for firefighters

Farmers hurry to deliver water and supplies, but authorities say they must use official channels

Wildfires: Gironde blaze remains stable, new fire in Var and Fontainebleau restarts

Storm warnings for nearly 50 departments as fire risk remains highest in north

Gironde wildfire: heatwave brings renewed risk following 'uneventful' night

Elsewhere, Var and Landes fires under control as blazes in Pyrénées, Alps, and Corsica continue to burn

Firefighter in protective gear oversees low flames in smoky woodland

French wildfires: are undergrowth clearance laws strong enough?

Clashes with environmental regulations and lack of compliance leads to questions over efficiency of anti-fire rules

France wildfires: why smoke can be dangerous even far from the flames

Millions of FFP2 masks are being distributed in affected departments

Man held after burning garden waste sparks Dordogne fire

Others fined for starting fires to burn vegetation in their gardens with one living close to a forest in Charente-Maritime

Wildfire near Bordeaux: critical hours ahead with new heatwave on way

Perimeter is unchanged but dry winds risk spread. Fourth firefighter dies in south

Massive wildfire near Bordeaux ‘stabilised’, 220,000 evacuated

Eighty-four firefighters have been injured and over 42,000 hectares of land affected

French wildfires: how are people told to evacuate? We do not have a French phone for texts

More than 200,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in recent days following as blazes have spread

Satellite photos reveal scale of recent wildfires in France

Before-and-after images show extent of damage

'The fire was so fierce behind us': A Var resident’s account of the wildfire

The family packed their bags, neighbours took turns keeping watch, and evacuated residents found shelter as the wildfire swept through the area

Smoke rises over a rural landscape, with a social media post about the Trévillach wildfire shown on screen.

France wildfire update July 22: major new blaze in Var

Hundreds evacuated as smoke seen from 60km away

‘We trusted local artisan’: Dordogne couple left with ruined home amid €37,000 roof deposit dispute

‘All the ceilings fell down and everything became damaged’

Wildfire updates July 16: fires 'causing most strain since end of World War Two' on France

'Zero tolerance' for arsonists as arrests continue

Wildfire with flames and thick smoke rising above green woodland near Aubais, France.

Update: 59 detained in France over wildfires, heatwave alerts persist

Authorities are investigating causes behind wildfires as devastation already overtakes summer 2025

Who are France’s volunteer firefighters?

Following a recent tragic death of a volunteer firefighter, we look at the vital role they play in public life

Multiple wildfires break out across France as early summer heat returns

Corsica, western and south-eastern regions are affected

Three forestry staff questioned over deadly south-west France wildfire

Investigators believe August 2025 fire was started deliberately

Solar panel fires across France: what may be causing them

A number of fires are currently under investigation in France

A large hornets' nest attached under a wooden roof beam, with a blowtorch inset in the corner.

French resident sets house on fire trying to destroy hornet nest

The Haute-Vienne man went against official advice

Early wildfires break out across France

Several forest fires have already burned hectares of vegetation in multiple regions and mobilised significant numbers of firefighters

Prefecture in south-east France reminds residents of rules and sanctions after forest fires

Two fires recently broke out in the Hautes-Alpes region, prompting the mobilisation of 70 firefighters

Firefighters in France deliberately start fires to prepare for summer risk

The exercise is part of efforts to prevent real, uncontrolled blazes

Venues close as fire safety checks ramp up across France

Many bars and other late-night venues are being shut down for lack of compliance

Aude deadly wildfire: why investigators suspect arson

Devastating blaze spread over 16,000 hectares, killing one person and injuring dozens of others

‘I could not stop’: man admits starting dozens of wildfires in southern France

10-day crime streak in Hérault department ended on July 5

Homes evacuated after forest fires in Brittany and south of France

Over 1,000 firefighters combined to tackle fires, with blazes near Marseille still ongoing

South of France hit by series of major wildfires: alert level raised to maximum

Weekend marked by high temperatures and strong winds has seen fires break out in several departments

Heatwave in France heightens pollen allergy risk - and brings forest fires

Current heatwave is intensifying both pollen-related allergies and the risk of forest fires

Why do many think wood-fired boilers will be banned in France - and is it true?

A new poll found that a majority of people believe a ban on wood-fired boilers and stoves will come into force from 2027

Forest fires break out in south-west France and behind Nice

Tree branches blown onto powerlines sparked blaze in Dordogne. Investigations into arson are being opened as a result of fires in south-east

Forest fires: what are rules for obligatory undergrowth clearance in France?

Property owners or renters must respect any applicable land maintenance rules to reduce the risk of fires

Major fire breaks out at one of France’s most popular Christmas markets

The cause of the blaze has yet to be officially determined

village of Castelnou in Pyrénées-Orientales, France

One of France’s oldest and ‘plus beaux’ hilltop villages evacuated due to wildfire

Roads were closed off as 800 firefighters fought to control the blaze in southern France. Around 400 hectares of forest have been destroyed

Wildfire strikes in south of France: residents warned to clear land

80 firefighters deployed to stop blaze spreading due to strong wind

A view of the Nice shoreline and Promenade des Anglais at sunset

Fears of ‘mad pyromaniac’ burning cars and trees in chic area of Nice

Investigators suspect the perpetrator to be ‘an isolated individual not in full possession of his faculties’

Land clearance in France: rules, fines and tax credits for garden work

Spring is coming and neglected gardens will soon get out of hand

Scams multiply as price of firewood rises in France

Buyers are advised to call companies directly and not to purchase via Facebook pages - which can be faked

A view of a fire engine in France with the emergency numbers 18 and 112

Resident and environmental fears after French lithium warehouse fire

The fire has now been contained but residents and environmental campaigners have condemned the situation as ‘very severe’

Wood burning stoves: what are the rules in France?

Homeowners must follow the requirements of insurance companies and government standards

Linky meters suspected to be cause of two house fires in France

The fires are not thought to be connected but are the latest controversy to hit the smart devices

A view of wood pellets against a background of firewood logs

Firewood scam: Three sentenced for €100,000 website fraud in France

The scammers stole €30,000 on a single website alone, and took advantage of a firewood shortage to trick customers with too-good-to-be-true offers

Is it correct that France wants to crackdown on open fires in homes?

Rumours of a proposed ban in 2025 have gained traction on social media

Tips to help avoid chimney fires as numbers increase in France

Correct wood, regular upkeep; we look at what you can do to reduce the risk

Why ground in south-west France is still burning from 2022 forest fire

Experts are worried about the knock on effect of these smaller fires

Fire at French wildlife park home to bears and big cats

Around 170 firefighters attended the scene and all animals and workers were evacuated

Renault and Dacia recall five car models in France over fire risk

Issues with fuel tank has caused models to face recall

A view of a grey pet parrot in a bird cage

Brittany couple saved from fire by parrot shrieking ‘It's hot!’

The ‘hero’ parrot was the first to notice something was wrong in the dead of night

Explainer: the rules for collecting wood from forests in France?

We explain the practice of affouage which allows people to collect wood legally

What can I do to stop my French neighbour’s regular garden bonfires?

Burning garden waste is normally illegal in France. We look at what you can do if your neighbour breaks this rule

Village tries out AI cameras - and stops 8 fires in south of France

The technology, which is also in use in the US and Canada, takes photos every five seconds and monitors for changes

Houses destroyed as forest fire rages at south of France tourist spot

More than 32 hectares have already been destroyed and the fire is not yet under control

France wildfire: people who did not clear gardens face legal action

Clearing undergrowth around your property is obligatory in many areas

A touristic square lined with shops and cafés in Grasse

Man taken into custody over fire that killed 3 in Grasse on Sunday

Occupants were woken at 3:00 by smoke coming up the five-storey residential building’s main staircase

Forest fire with helicopter flying over delivering water

Thousands evacuated as forest fire rages in south France tourist spot

More than 500 firefighters have worked through the night. The blaze near Argelès-sur-Mer is now reported to be under control with no deaths reported

A view of a fire engine reading ‘Incendie (fire)’ on the side

Eleven people dead after fire at holiday home in France

A group of mentally disabled people were on holiday at the property when the blaze broke out on Wednesday morning

A view of the back of a fire engine in France with the emergency numbers 112 and 18

Major fire breaks out at grain silos on France’s west coast

Smoke from the blaze in La Rochelle could be seen from the neighbouring Vendée department

A fire engine reading ‘Incendie’ on the side

Deadly French holiday home fire: Gîte ‘had not passed safety checks’

Eleven people were killed in the blaze

Dinosaur-era tree found, heroic baker: 5 feel-good French news stories

We try and prove it was not all bad news this week in France