Wildfires rage in southern France, forcing 10,500 evacuations and disrupting Tour de France; Spain and Portugal fires stabilize

France: wildfire near Canigou forces mass evacuations

A large wildfire that started on Saturday 4 July near the Canigou mountain range in southern France has burned 45,000 stremmata (4,500 hectares) by Monday 6 July, up from 13,500 stremmata reported the previous day. One firefighter and one resident have been injured. The prefecture of Pyrénées-Orientales said weather conditions remain unfavorable, and residents of 26 municipalities have been ordered to evacuate. Around 10,500 people have been moved from the Aspres massif and the town of Ille-sur-Têt. A Greek forest firefighting team has also been deployed to assist, according to local reports.

Weather conditions remain unfavorable and require continuous significant mobilization of rescue services. Residents of 26 municipalities have been asked to evacuate their homes.

Conditions are becoming increasingly difficult due to the strengthening northwest wind and intense heat. The fire is intensifying, we must continue the fight.

Approximately 700 firefighters, 200 vehicles, and about ten aircraft are battling the blaze. Two other smaller fires are burning in southern and central-western France.

Tour de France stage 3 closed to spectators

The fire is located a few tens of kilometers from Les Angles, where the third stage of the Tour de France is scheduled to finish at 17:00 local time on Monday. Local authorities announced that the route will not be changed, but the stage will be held "without spectators" because emergency crews are fully mobilized. The decision reflects the strain on resources as the fire continues to spread.

Spain and Portugal: fires stabilizing

Across the border, a wildfire that started on Friday 3 July near the Costa Brava tourist resort in Spain has burned 22,000 stremmata. Firefighters said on Sunday that the situation "has stabilized." Spanish authorities believe the fire was caused by negligence and have arrested one person, reportedly a worker who used a cutting wheel. In Portugal, a separate fire is under partial control, though few details have been released.

Heatwave and early fire season

The fires erupted as a heatwave grips southern Europe. On Monday, 16 French departments in the south and west were placed on orange alert, with temperatures expected to reach 40°C locally. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed concern that the fire season has started "a month early." Firefighters note that most wildfires are triggered by human activity, but their spread is amplified by the increasing frequency of heatwaves and droughts linked to climate change.

We started seeing smoke around 22:30 local time, then it spread more and more. Someone from the municipal authority knocked on our door around 01:00 in the morning to tell us to leave. There were fire trucks everywhere, the smell of burning overwhelmed us.

She, her mother, her son, and their three dogs were taken to a stadium where evacuees were gathered.