French Mediterranean Wildfire Spreads Rapidly, Prompting Evacuations

QTV Gambia

Previous wildfires in France.

A fast-moving wildfire swept through parts of France's Mediterranean coast near Fréjus on Sunday, threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of several hamlets as strong winds, extreme heat and prolonged drought fuelled its rapid spread.

Local prefect Simon Babre told BFM TV that the blaze had spread with exceptional speed due to the ongoing heatwave and severe drought conditions.

"The fire spread extremely quickly in the context of this heatwave and extreme drought," Babre said.

By Sunday evening, the fire had burned approximately 180 hectares (445 acres) of land, according to the prefecture.

Television footage showed towering flames advancing behind hillside villas typical of the French Riviera, while thick black smoke engulfed pine and cypress forests across the affected area.

The wildfire also disrupted transport, with rail services between the Mediterranean port city of Toulon and Les Arcs suspended as firefighters battled the blaze.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned last month that the record-breaking temperatures experienced across Western Europe in late June would significantly increase the risk of wildfires, citing forecasts of persistent heat, exceptionally low humidity and dry vegetation.

According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, temperatures in Les Arcs, where the fire was burning, were expected to reach 38°C on Sunday—around 11.4°C above the area's average maximum temperature for 19 July during the 1961–1990 climate reference period.

Emergency services remained at the scene as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to additional residential areas.

Source: Reuters



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