Wildfires scorch southern France as heat and drought fuel blazes

Firefighters in southern France were battling major wildfires on Thursday as extreme heat, drought and strengthening winds pushed flames through dry vegetation and forced evacuations along the Mediterranean coast.

The biggest blaze was burning in the Aude and Hérault regions, where local authorities said about 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles had been deployed. Four water-bomber aircraft were also sent to the area as crews tried to stop the fire from spreading further.

Officials said the main fire had burned about 900 hectares, or 2,200 acres. AP also reported two other fires near Marseille were contained, though not yet fully extinguished.

Aude prefect Alain Bucquet said firefighters wanted to bring the fire under control quickly because temperatures were rising and the wind was strengthening. Regional prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe said crews were also trying to keep the flames away from an industrial zone.

Evacuations on the coast

In Canet-en-Roussillon, authorities evacuated 1,500 people from three campsites after the fire threatened the area. AP reported that hundreds of mobile homes were destroyed.

The evacuation showed how quickly conditions can shift in the coastal fire zone, where campers, residents and nearby businesses can be exposed when dry vegetation, wind and high temperatures line up at the same time.

A high-risk season

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said nearly 7,000 fires had broken out across France since the start of summer and that about 8,700 hectares had burned. His warning added to signs that the country is entering a dangerous wildfire period after weeks of intense heat.

Le Monde reported on June 23 that France was in an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures widely exceeding 40C and more than 90% of the population under heat alert. On June 28, the newspaper said firefighters were bracing for a high-risk season, with 52 departments exposed to wildfire danger.

That heat has left vegetation under severe water stress, and no rain was forecast in the coming days. Officials said that combination leaves little margin for error if wind or temperatures intensify again.

What happens next

The immediate questions are whether the Aude and Hérault fires can be brought under control, whether the Marseille-area blazes stay contained, and whether new evacuations are needed in Canet-en-Roussillon or elsewhere.

Authorities are also watching for updated counts of acreage burned, injuries or structural damage, and any new weather changes that could help or hinder firefighting efforts.