Wildfires broke out across southern France on July 2, 2026, with hundreds of firefighters deployed to battle several intense blazes, particularly in the Aude region and near Marseille [1, 2, 3]. The largest fire, near the Spanish border in Aude, scorched approximately 900 hectares, officials said [2, 3].
In total, multiple wildfires burned around 1,210 hectares across the Aude department and areas surrounding Marseille [2, 3]. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez noted, “Three blazes, two of which broke out on the western edge of the Mediterranean port city of Marseille, had scorched a combined area of 1,210 hectares” [2]. Additional fires occurred near Marseille, including two on the city’s western edge and a smaller fire near Rognac by Marseille airport [2, 3].
Firefighting efforts involved about 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles, including water-bomber aircraft [2, 3]. A fire covering around 260 hectares in Lancon-Provence was reported under control [1, 2, 3].
The fires came after a severe heatwave, with dry conditions and high winds complicating efforts to contain the blazes. Alain Bucquet, Prefect of Aude, stated, "The idea is to bring the fire under control quickly because temperatures are rising and the wind is growing stronger" [3].
On July 1, more than 2,000 people were evacuated from six campsites near Fréjus due to a nearby forest fire [2, 3]. The ongoing extreme weather continued to threaten the region; France’s weather office warned that another period of extreme heat could hit the country next week [1, 2, 3].
Health authorities estimate the recent heatwave may have caused at least 1,000 excess deaths across France [2].
In the afternoon of July 2, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrived in Marseille to hold a crisis meeting addressing the wildfires and heatwave situation [2].
