The fire situation is considered "quite tense" Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an interministerial crisis cell in Marseille on Thursday. Since the start of the season, 7,000 fires have already been recorded in France and 8,700 hectares have burned. The head of government described the fires "premature" Compared to previous years, the heat is returning to the south of the country. Despite this, no department is expected to be classified as a red zone this weekend. The crisis meeting aims to assess the ongoing fires, anticipate the coming days, and coordinate emergency resources in the most exposed areas.
In the Aude region, the fire was driven by the wind
The fire around Pouzols-Minervois remains a major concern. The fire has spread due to the wind, particularly on its right flank, which has become the fire's leading edge. It is heading towards the towns of Paraza and Sainte-Valière. By 14:30 p.m., nearly 900 hectares had burned between the Hérault and Aude departments. Weather conditions remain unfavorable, with gusts of up to 70 km/h forecast in the afternoon's situation report.
690 firefighters and significant aerial resources deployed
On the ground, 690 firefighters are battling the Aude River fire. The deployment includes four Canadair water bombers, one Dash 8, and two water-bombing helicopters. Three reinforcement columns from outside the department are also en route. Authorities are asking people to avoid the affected areas to prevent hindering emergency services. Residents should follow the firefighters' instructions and not overload the emergency lines.
The heatwave is taking its toll on the vegetation
Julien Marion, Director General of Civil Security and Crisis Management, emphasized the direct impact of the heatwave on vegetation. Drought, wind, and high temperatures make fires more likely to start and spread more quickly. Authorities also remind the public that nine out of ten fires are caused by humans. Risky behaviors, such as discarded cigarette butts, work that produces sparks, and poorly controlled fires or barbecues, can ignite fires in already vulnerable areas.
Narbonne, Canet, Bouches-du-Rhône: several active fronts
In Narbonne, another fire broke out near La Nautique. Two houses burned down, two others were damaged, and 12 people were evacuated. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, a fire started between Canet-en-Roussillon and Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, near the campsites. Evacuations were carried out, particularly around the Le Brasilia, La Sainte Marie, and Marina campsites. The RD81 road was closed between Torreilles and Canet-en-Roussillon to facilitate the emergency response. In the Bouches-du-Rhône, firefighters remain mobilized around Lançon-Provence. A fire has burned 260 hectares north of Marseille, while a second blaze in Rognac was contained after burning 40 hectares. More than 250 firefighters and two Canadair water bombers were deployed to the Lançon-Provence area.
Authorities are urging extreme caution.
The priority remains protecting the population and containing the remaining active fires. Emergency services are asking people not to travel to the affected areas, to keep roads clear, to follow local instructions, and to quickly alert emergency services if a fire breaks out. The next few hours will be crucial, particularly in the Aude department, where the wind continues to hamper firefighters' efforts. The response remains reinforced in several departments in the South, during a period marked by heat, dry vegetation, and a surge in wildfires.
