Wildfire in the Pyrénées-Orientales: Situation Eases — Hundreds of Personnel Continue Monitoring Burned Areas

Pyrénées-Orientales – July 9, 2026: In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, the situation has visibly stabilized following a major wildfire in Aspres. Departmental authorities reported an improvement in the fire line on Wednesday, July 8. However, the fire is not yet fully under control, with localized hotspots remaining, and the command center has warned of a risk of reignition if winds pick up again.

Weaker winds and slightly lower temperatures helped drive progress. Aerial support from firefighting aircraft and helicopters complemented ground operations, while several hundred firefighters maintained firebreaks, extinguished hotspots, and secured critical areas such as forest edges near settlements. Armored vehicles helped reach difficult-access sections, and cleanup crews dealt with charred trees threatening transport routes.

According to official statements, several thousand hectares of vegetation have burned since the outbreak in the early hours of Saturday. The Interior Ministry indicated a range of around 4,600 to around 5,000 hectares on Monday. Numerous residents were forced to evacuate as a precaution. Some of the affected municipalities have already reopened, but individual access roads remain controlled. Safety protocols apply when returning home, and buildings are inspected for heat damage, sparks in attics, and damaged electrical installations. Municipalities and aid organizations are providing temporary shelters, drinking water, masks, and psychosocial support for those affected.

Departmental authorities are maintaining precautionary measures. Outdoor fires, fireworks, and the burning of pruning debris are prohibited until at least mid-July. Hiking trails in the immediate wildfire area remain partially closed so as not to hinder firefighting operations. People in the area are asked to check official departmental channels and municipal notification systems for information and to call 18 or 112 immediately if they spot smoke.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has pledged additional resources, and national units, including the central command and the Entente Valabre training organization, are supporting local fire services. The Gendarmerie nationale and prosecutors are investigating possible causes of ignition. No definitive conclusion has yet been reached, and investigators are preserving traces and collecting witness statements at several suspicious points of origin.

Looking ahead to the coming days, commanders note that the underlying risk level in southern France remains high. Prolonged dryness and low vegetation moisture mean that the risk of renewed fires will remain high until rain sufficiently moistens the ground and the areas surrounding the burned zone. Residents and travelers are urged to dispose of cigarette butts properly, avoid using spark-producing equipment near forests, and always keep forest roads clear for emergency vehicles.