Wildfires in Southern France: Around 3,000 People Evacuated Amid New Fires

According to authorities, hundreds of emergency personnel were battling the flames. "Hunderte Einsatzkräfte sind mit den Löscharbeiten beschäftigt", the operations centers reported. Two firefighters were slightly injured. Injuries among the population were initially not reported based on the information available.

Prime Minister Lecornu Speaks of a Tense Situation

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the situation in Marseille as "angespannte Lage". According to this, several thousand fires have broken out nationwide since the beginning of summer. "Fast 9.000 Hektar Fläche seien bereits verbrannt", said Lecornu. Another, less reliable source cites an area of 8,700 hectares since the start of the season.

On Wednesday alone, 1,200 hectares of land burned, according to the prime minister. Several major fires are currently raging simultaneously. The largest fire is spreading in the Aude and Hérault departments. According to local authorities, up to 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles are deployed against this fire.

Fire North of Narbonne and Operations in Aude

Around 30 kilometers north of Narbonne, at least 800 hectares of land fell victim to another wildfire by late Wednesday evening. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed there. As the news agency AFP learned from the relevant prefecture, the fire had been contained in the meantime.

Two additional wildfires broke out north of the port city of Marseille. Near Lançon-Provence, the flames destroyed 260 hectares, and two firefighting aircraft remain in operation there. Near Rognac, 50 hectares burned, and this fire is now under control.

Additional Fires Near Marseille

The drought and heat wave that have persisted for weeks in France have dried out vegetation and significantly hampered firefighting efforts. The battle against the flames proved extremely difficult because there were no access roads into the hilly terrain. The fires broke out approximately two to three weeks earlier than usual in the annual cycle.

Meteorologists do not expect precipitation in the coming days, which will further aggravate the situation. Strong winds, dried-out soils, and high temperatures continue to provide unfavorable conditions for emergency personnel, according to authorities. In two villages near a fire zone, around 200 people were evacuated.

Drought, Heat, and Wind Worsen the Situation

Prime Minister Lecornu estimated the number of fires that have broken out since the start of the season at around 7,000. This puts fire activity this year significantly above the average of previous summers. Emergency personnel have been battling severe wildfires for days, the scale of which is heavily straining the fire department's capacity.

France is experiencing a summer with record-level dryness and temperatures that, according to authorities' assessments, have favored an early fire season. The combination of drought, heat, and wind creates conditions under which fires could spread "rasend schnell", Jorda warned.

The reports on the situation were broadcast on 03.07.2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program. Authorities called on residents in affected regions to follow the instructions of emergency personnel and to avoid restricted zones. According to information from Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, 600 people had to leave their homes.

As of Thursday evening, multiple fire sources remained active. The fire department expects the operation to continue for several days. Ground-based firefighting efforts are being supported by firefighting aircraft deployed specifically against the larger fire sources.

Burden on Emergency Personnel and Population

The situation underscores the growing burden on French fire departments due to the increasing frequency and intensity of summer fires. Prime Minister Lecornu announced that authorities would continue to monitor the situation closely. According to the information available, relief is not in sight in the short term.

The reporting on the fires north of Marseille and in the hinterland of Perpignan fits into a pattern observed across southern Europe this summer: long dry spells, high temperatures, and a significantly early fire season pose major challenges for emergency services and the civilian population.

On Thursday evening, the focus of evacuations remained on the coastal strip near Sainte-Marie-la-Mer. The fire department announced that "dass fast 3.000 Personen in Sicherheit gebracht worden" seien. Those affected were accommodated in collective shelters and with private individuals, with capacities being "angespannt, aber tragfähig".

Prime Minister Lecornu had previously warned that the fires had broken out earlier this year than usual. This observation is consistent with reports from several departments in southern France. Authorities recommend that residents do not burn garden waste and absolutely avoid open fires in forests.