Published On 2/7/2026
A massive fire broke out in forests in southern France, forcing dozens of residents to evacuate their homes, while emergency teams continue their efforts to extinguish the flames fueled by harsh weather conditions.
The French authorities deployed hundreds of fire brigade members to combat the fire that broke out yesterday, Wednesday, in the provinces of Erro and Oude, as the severe drought and strong winds contributed to the fire spreading quickly through dry vegetation, amid temperatures that reached about 30 degrees Celsius.
By late Wednesday evening, the fire had consumed about 800 hectares of green space, according to the regional administration, and media outlets later quoted a local source as saying that the fire “was contained in some periods, but control over it has not yet been completed.”
Firefighting teams indicated that the conditions on the ground were extremely difficult due to the rugged terrain and lack of access paths, which required the use of firefighting aircraft to assist in extinguishing operations.
Meanwhile, local fire brigades announced the outbreak of two other smaller fires in the regions of Ragnac and Lançon Provence, near the city of Marseille, as the relevant teams continue to monitor the situation in anticipation of any developments.
In terms of preventive measures, officials reported that about 200 people were evacuated or ordered to remain in their homes in the towns of Pozol-Minervois and Mayac.
This accident comes a year after major fires occurred in the Corbières region in southern France, and a few days after a severe heat wave swept across large parts of Europe, amid official expectations of the possibility of a new heat wave reaching the continent.
