Wildfire in southern France burns 930 hectares overnight, 580 firefighters deployed
A wildfire that broke out Saturday evening near Trévillach in the Pyrénées-Orientales department has already consumed 930 hectares, with over 580 firefighters battling the blaze and reinforcements arriving from outside the region.
Fire outbreak and rapid spread
A wildfire ignited around 19:30 on Saturday, July 4, in a rugged, hard-to-reach massif near Trévillach in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, about 35 kilometres west of Perpignan. Within hours, the flames had consumed 220 hectares despite the efforts of 300 firefighters, according to the prefecture. By Sunday morning, the fire had expanded to 930 hectares, driven by dry conditions and an orange heatwave alert that had been in effect since midday Saturday.
- Fire breaks out in a difficult-to-access massif near Trévillach.
- 220 hectares burned, 300 firefighters deployed, aerial support including Canadairs.
- 930 hectares burned, over 580 firefighters, extra-departmental reinforcements en route, roads closed.
Firefighting response
More than 580 firefighters are now on the ground, supported by significant aerial resources: four Pélican aircraft, two Dash planes, a Milan, and Canadair water bombers. Extra-departmental reinforcement columns are en route, and a local crisis unit has been activated at the prefecture. The prefect, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, stressed that "the greatest vigilance is required across the entire department given the fire risk, which is particularly high today, with an exceptional level across the entire east of the department."
Precautionary measures and road closures
No general evacuation order has been issued, but the prefect has asked the mayors of Rodès, Ille-sur-Têt, and Montalba-le-Château to gather residents of isolated dwellings at their town halls. Other inhabitants are urged to remain reachable and follow official instructions. Three departmental roads, the D2, D17, and D66 between Vinça and Ille-sur-Têt, have been closed, and the public is asked to avoid the area entirely to facilitate emergency operations.
No general evacuation order has been given, but the prefect has asked the mayors of Rodès, Ille-sur-Têt and Montalba-le-Château to gather residents of dispersed houses at the town hall and to ask other residents to remain reachable if needed.
An early and worrying fire season
This blaze follows another fire in the same department on Thursday that forced the evacuation of 3,000 people from Canet-en-Roussillon and Sainte-Marie-la-Mer before being brought under control on Friday. A separate fire in the neighbouring Aude department burned 900 hectares in 48 hours. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, visiting the Aude site, said he was "very worried" that the fire season had begun a month ahead of schedule.
I am very worried that the fire season has started a month early.
