Trévillach, July 7, 2026
Because of a severe forest fire in the French Pyrenees, around 12,000 people from about 20 municipalities have been evacuated since the outbreak on Saturday evening, while around 800 firefighters battle the flames.
The fire broke out on Saturday evening in the municipality of Trévillach in the Département Pyrénées-Orientales. As the prefect of the département, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, announced early on Tuesday, residents from about 20 municipalities are affected. In total, around 12,000 people have been brought to safety.
According to the authorities, around 800 firefighters are deployed. Initially, 16 injured were reported. The emergency services are trying to contain the spread of the fire toward the Aspres massif with a strategy of "tactical fires."
Strategy of Tactical Fires
As Prefect Regnault de la Mothe explained, this means setting backfires to prevent the spread of the fire: "Das bedeutet, Gegenfeuer zu legen, um die Ausbreitung des Brandes zu verhindern." Because of unfavorable weather, the fire department had not been able to pursue this strategy at the fire front in front of the Aspres massif, he said.