FAST-MOVING WILDFIRE FORCES MASS EVACUATIONS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE

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Agency Report

A fast-moving wildfire swept through southern France on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes as nearly 1,000 firefighters and multiple water-bombing aircraft battled to contain the blaze.

The fire tore through wooded hills in the Var region, consuming about 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) within a few hours and prompting the evacuation of nearly 400 people from several communities.

The prefect of the Var region, Simon Babre, said the blaze spread rapidly down Gros Bessillon mountain despite weather conditions that had not suggested such an aggressive advance.

“The fire is moving down Gros Bessillon mountain at a very fast speed, which was not at all anticipated given the climatic conditions and weakening wind,” he said.

Evacuations were carried out in the villages of Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens and Correns, while many of those displaced came from Pontevès, where the fire originated, and the nearby village of Sillans-la-Cascade.

France’s national weather service, Météo-France, attributed the rapid spread of the wildfire to extremely dry conditions that have placed the region under an extreme forest fire risk.

Authorities deployed extensive firefighting resources, including between 900 and 950 firefighters, eight Canadair water-bombing aircraft, four firefighting helicopters and two Dash aircraft to slow the advancing flames.

Var Fire Chief Eric Grohin described the blaze as the region’s top emergency, saying efforts were focused on protecting communities threatened by the fire.

Local volunteer Isabelle Scarica, who joined others preparing meals for emergency responders in Pontevès, described the situation as “a major disaster” as the flames spread toward neighbouring villages.

The fire damaged one fire engine, while four firefighters and two residents suffered minor smoke inhalation, according to local authorities.

Before nightfall forced aerial operations to end, firefighting aircraft carried out more than 100 water and fire-retardant drops in an effort to contain the blaze.

The wildfire comes amid an unusually severe fire season in France, driven by repeated heatwaves and prolonged drought.

According to French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, nearly 40,000 hectares have been destroyed by wildfires across the country since the beginning of the year, exceeding the total area burned throughout the whole of last year.

Elsewhere, firefighters continued battling a lightning-triggered wildfire that has burned 130 hectares in the remote Ecrins mountain range in the Alps, while another blaze on the Mediterranean island of Corsica remained active after burning for nine consecutive days.

Authorities have warned that the heightened wildfire risk is expected to persist as dry conditions continue across large parts of the country.