Multiple wildfires break out across France as early summer heat returns

Multiple wildfires have broken out around France as the hot weather returns, stretching firefighting resources from Corsica to western and south-eastern regions.

While most blazes were contained within hours, the number of outbreaks raised concerns as hot, dry conditions continue to expand across the country.

Corsica and western France face active blazes

The most significant fire broke out in the maquis near Porto-Vecchio in southern Corsica, where around 60 firefighters and ten fire engines were deployed.

Canadair waterbombing aircraft were brought in from Hyères to support aerial water drops over the steep terrain.

Residents described heavy smoke and rapidly deteriorating visibility. “There was smoke everywhere… you could barely see the mountains in the background,” said one witness in Porto-Vecchio, describing a “very thick haze” over the area.

On the mainland, fires in the Vienne department burned between 10 and 15 hectares of vegetation before being contained in the evening, though not entirely extinguished at the time of reporting.

In La Chapelle-Moulière, an agricultural fire affected around seven hectares, with local farmers assisting firefighters using tractors.

Smaller outbreaks were also recorded in Var and Hérault, while near Fontainebleau in Seine-et-Marne a fire destroyed around 5,000 square metres of vegetation.

Most incidents were brought under control quickly, but emergency services reported a high number of simultaneous callouts.

A real-time map of ongoing wildfires is available on monitoring website feuxdeforet.fr

Fire risk rises as heat spreads across the country

On Sunday, June 14, Météo-France placed six departments on orange alert for wildfire risk: Deux-Sèvres, Charente-Maritime, Vaucluse, Gard, Hérault and Aude.

“The vegetation is becoming more and more receptive to fire ignition,” said Christophe Chantepy of the Office national des forêts, adding that conditions are lowering ignition thresholds, even if France is “not yet in a critical situation”.

Authorities emphasise that human activity is responsible for some 90% of wildfires.

The rise in fire activity comes as hot air from Spain and North Africa pushes temperatures above 30C across southern France, with peaks near 35C in Occitanie and Provence.