Wildfire in French Pyrenees forces 10,000 evacuations and closes Tour de France stage to spectators
A fast-moving wildfire in southern France has burned 4,600 hectares, injured two people critically, and prompted the evacuation of 10,000 residents. The third stage of the Tour de France will proceed without spectators.
Fire spreads rapidly
A wildfire that broke out on Saturday evening near Trevillach in the Pyrénées-Orientales department has burned 4,600 hectares of forest and scrubland as of Monday morning. The fire remains uncontrolled, driven by heat, drought, and strong winds. Around 700 firefighters are battling the blaze, supported by water-dropping aircraft and helicopters.
The fire is not under control. It has so far covered 4,600 hectares. Our priority today is of course to resume this fierce fight to stop its spread on the slopes.
- Fire breaks out near Trevillach in Pyrénées-Orientales.
- Evacuation order issued for 10,000 people; two critically injured.
- Prefect announces Tour de France stage 3 will be held without spectators.
- Fire still uncontrolled, 4,600 hectares burned; orange alert extended to 16 departments.
Evacuations and injuries
Local authorities ordered the evacuation of 10,000 people on Sunday, double the initial estimate. Residents were urged on social media not to return to evacuated villages, even to collect personal belongings or go to work. Two people are in critical condition: a resident who suffered burns and a firefighter injured during operations.
Your presence in these areas hinders the work of firefighters intervening on site.
Tour de France stage closed to spectators
The third stage of the Tour de France, scheduled for Monday, will be held without public attendance due to the fire. Prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe announced the decision at a press conference on Sunday evening in Perpignan, the departmental capital.
Other fires and heatwave
In the neighbouring Gard department, a separate fire consumed 350 hectares and caused the partial closure of the A9 motorway linking Lyon to Barcelona. Seventy people were evacuated there. In Drôme, 300 firefighters are tackling a blaze in an uninhabited zone covering about 300 hectares. An orange alert for fire risk was in place for seven departments on Sunday, expanding to 16 departments across southern and western France on Monday. Temperatures have reached 40°C, and Health Minister Stéphanie Rist reported that 2,025 people died during the heatwave that hit France at the end of June.
