A large wildfire erupted in southern France on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, prompting the evacuation of scores of people, according to emergency services. Hundreds of firefighters mobilized to battle the blaze in the Herault and Aude departments, fueled by drought and strong winds.
Fire Spreads Across 800 Hectares
By late evening, the fire had covered 800 hectares, the prefecture reported. A source in the prefecture told AFP around 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) that "the fire is contained at times, but it is not under control." Difficult terrain with no access routes hampered firefighting efforts, prompting the use of water-dumping aircraft.
Evacuations and Confinements
About 200 people were evacuated or confined in the communes of Pouzols-Minervois and Mailhac. Danielle, a 99-year-old evacuated woman from Pouzols, said: "The smoke was so thick, so suffocating that firefighters told us to leave." Temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius combined with strong wind gusts drove the fire through low, very dry vegetation.
Additional Blazes Near Marseille
Two smaller fires broke out in Rognac and Lancon-Provence near Marseille, according to local firefighters. The wildfire comes a year after major blazes in the Corbieres region and days after a deadly heatwave across much of Europe, with another heatwave forecast.
