Fires in the Var and Corsica: more than 500 hectares burned in the heatwave

On Sunday, July 19, several fires broke out in the Var and Haute-Corse departments, two areas placed under an orange heatwave warning by Météo-France. Hundreds of firefighters were mobilized to contain the blazes, which were fueled by drought and wind.

In the Var department, the largest fire broke out around 15 p.m. in the town of Taradeau, behind the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Fanned by the wind, it quickly spread towards Les Arcs-sur-Argens, burning nearly 200 hectares before evening. At 22:30 p.m., the prefecture indicated that the fire was "still not contained," while deeming the situation "favorable." More than 600 firefighters were still mobilized Sunday evening, with operations planned "throughout the night to extinguish all remaining hotspots."

Having reached a suburban area, the fire burned ten houses; firefighters saved sixty. One firefighter suffered a minor injury, a burn to his hand. In total, 150 people were evacuated from the two towns and housed in community halls and a school. Around 22 p.m., residents of Taradeau and some neighborhoods in Les Arcs were able to return to their homes.

In Upper Corsica, the situation remains worrying in mountainous areas that are difficult to access. Two fires sparked by lightning on July 12 are still burning a week later. The Albertacce fire continued to spread on Sunday, reaching nearly 326 hectares after "regaining strength during the afternoon" and entering a forest. The Upper Corsica prefecture cites "the steep terrain, the difficulty of accessing the fires, and the conditions that allow the fire to spread" as obstacles to firefighting operations.

One hundred and sixty firefighters, supported by 66 ground vehicles, two Pelican aircraft, a water-bombing helicopter, and a reconnaissance plane, battled the blaze on Sunday. The fire led to the closure of several hiking trails, including a section of the GR20. A firefighter from the Hérault department, who had come to assist, suffered burns to his hands in the afternoon and was taken to the hospital. The previous day, a forest firefighter from the Corsican Regional Authority had been injured in the head during operations near Corte, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

In Trignac, near Saint-Nazaire in Loire-Atlantique, a brush fire spread to a residential area late this afternoon. Three houses and a shed were destroyed, according to the prefecture. Around fifty people, evacuated as a precaution, were taken to a community hall.