Wildfires Burn Over 900 Hectares in Southern France

Wildfires spread across more than 900 hectares in the Aude and Herault regions of southern France on Thursday, with up to 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles deployed to contain the largest blaze. Local authorities said four water-bomber aircraft were also sent to the Aude to support ground crews.

Officials noted that rising temperatures and strengthening winds complicated efforts to bring the fire under control.

Two separate fires broke out near Marseille and were brought under control but not fully extinguished. In the seaside resort of Canet-en-Roussillon, spreading flames forced the evacuation of 1,500 people from three campsites and destroyed hundreds of mobile homes.

Firefighters worked to keep the flames from reaching an industrial zone in the same area. Officials described the effort as a fierce struggle against advancing fire lines.

Minister Sebastien Lecornu said nearly 7,000 fires have broken out since the start of the summer season, burning some 8,700 hectares. He described the overall situation as fairly tense. The Aude prefect told France Info that the priority is rapid containment because temperatures are rising and winds are growing stronger.

High temperatures and drought conditions are forecast to continue, with no rain expected in the coming days. " — Sebastien Lecornu, July 2026 (The Independent) Vegetation across the Mediterranean region remains under severe water stress, increasing the risk of further fires.

The Aude region last year contained France’s largest wildfire in decades.