Wildfires engulf southern France after record heatwave, 2,000 firefighters deployed and new heatwave looming

Fires spread along the Mediterranean coast

Wildfires are raging across southern France, with over 2,000 firefighters struggling to contain flames fanned by winds reaching 70 km/h. The fires follow a prolonged heatwave that blanketed Western Europe in late June, leaving vegetation tinder-dry. In Canet-en-Roussillon, near the Spanish border, flames swept through a marina, destroying warehouses and a yacht as thick black smoke covered the beach. The local airport in nearby Perpignan was closed, and 1,500 people were evacuated from campsites.

Political pressure mounts in Marseille

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu attended a crisis management meeting in Marseille as his minority government faces a no-confidence vote on Monday over its handling of the heatwave. Lecornu said 87,000 stremmata have burned so far this season, with 12,000 stremmata lost on 1 July alone. Earlier on 2 July, firefighters brought two blazes near Marseille under control, but a larger fire in the Aude department has already consumed 9,000 stremmata and is being fought by up to 800 firefighters in adverse wind conditions.

Industrial zone at risk

“Our main concern is the industrial zone, where there are many industrial buildings. Inside some of them are potentially polluting substances and flammable materials.”

Four helicopters and three Canadair water-bomber planes have been mobilised around Canet-en-Roussillon. Authorities in the Pyrénées-Orientales department flagged the high stakes of protecting the industrial area from the encroaching flames.

Heatwave toll and next wave

Health authorities estimate the previous heatwave may have caused about 1,000 additional deaths in France. In Spain, the Carlos III Health Institute reported at least 1,028 heat-related deaths in June, more than double the 407 recorded in June 2025. The World Meteorological Organization warned last week that record temperatures, very low humidity and dry vegetation would sharply raise fire risk. Météo-France now predicts a new extreme heatwave next week.

Wider evacuations

East of the main fire zones, over 2,000 people were evacuated on 1 July from six campsites in Fréjus, a resort town in the Var department about 32 km from Cannes. No casualties have been reported so far. In Rognac, near Marseille airport, a smaller fire burned close to the runway, and at least one flight crew reassured passengers that the smoke smell was not from the aircraft. A separate fire in Lançon-Provence that charred 2,600 stremmata has been brought under control.