Wildfires: Six Departments in the South on Red Alert Due to “Very High” Risk
Southern France Faces Extreme Fire Risk Amid Persisting Heatwaves
A large part of southern France is currently under maximum alert due to a "very high" risk of wildfires as heatwave conditions continue to affect the region.
According to the latest bulletin from Météo-France, six departments have been placed on red alert: Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône, and Vaucluse. This warning indicates an exceptionally high level of danger.
In Aude, which has recently experienced a significant wildfire, authorities are highlighting an "extreme risk of fire occurrence"—a situation not seen since 2016. Michael Sabot, the deputy director of the fire service for the department, noted that certain areas are facing a "very extreme" threat this weekend, particularly due to strong winds.
Additionally, 14 other departments are under orange alert, including Rhône, Drôme, Ardèche, Var, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, Aveyron, Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Lot-et-Garonne, Dordogne, Haute-Vienne, Charente, and Deux-Sèvres.
On August 5, a major fire in Aude had already claimed the life of a woman, injured several individuals—including firefighters—and devastated over 16,000 hectares of vegetation.
