A fast-moving southern France wildfire forced nearly 400 people to flee their homes on Tuesday as almost 1,000 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft, battled to contain the rapidly spreading blaze.
The fire broke out in the Var region, between Marseille and Nice, and tore through 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of wooded hills within hours.
Simon Barbre, the region’s prefect, said the blaze spread down Gros Bessillon mountain at an unexpected speed despite weaker winds and prevailing weather conditions.
Evacuations were ordered in and around the villages of Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens and Correns. Many residents from Ponteves, where the fire started, and nearby Sillans-la-Cascade were also moved to safety.
France’s weather agency, Meteo-France, warned that exceptionally dry conditions had created an extreme risk of forest fires across the area.
Firefighters deployed aircraft to drop water and fire retardant ahead of the advancing flames in an effort to slow the blaze.
An AFP journalist near Cotignac reported seeing thick grey smoke rising above hillsides engulfed in flames.
Var fire chief Eric Grohin described the wildfire as the region’s top emergency, with between 900 and 950 firefighters deployed on the ground.
Volunteer Isabelle Scarica, who was helping prepare food for firefighters in Ponteves, described the situation as “a major disaster”, saying the fire continued to spread towards neighbouring villages.
Authorities said one fire engine was damaged, while four firefighters and two residents suffered minor smoke inhalation.
Before aircraft operations ended at nightfall, crews completed more than 100 water and fire-retardant drops using eight Canadair aircraft, four firefighting helicopters and two Dash planes.
France’s 2026 wildfire season has started earlier than usual due to repeated heatwaves and prolonged drought, with firefighters responding to near-daily outbreaks in recent weeks.
Another wildfire burned about 200 hectares and destroyed several homes in the Var region between Sunday and Monday near Les Arcs-sur-Argens.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said nearly 40,000 hectares have burned across France since the beginning of the year, significantly exceeding the total area destroyed during all of last year.
Wildfires also remained active in other parts of the country, including the Alps, where a lightning-triggered blaze has consumed 130 hectares in the Ecrins mountain range, and on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, where firefighters continued battling a fire near Corte for a ninth consecutive day.
