Large forest fire in the Drôme: Army sends 120 soldiers to support

Die – 10.07.2026: A severe forest fire in the Drôme has destroyed large areas within a few days and pushed emergency services to their limits. According to the prefecture and consistent media reports, the fire in the region around Die has already affected several thousand hectares. Villages and two holiday camps were evacuated as a precaution, and hundreds of children and residents were brought to safety. Numerous road connections in the fire area are only partially passable, and some hamlets remain cordoned off for safety reasons.

On site, several hundred firefighters are battling a fire development that is favoured by dried-out soils, dense vegetation and persistent heat. The incident command reports difficult, partly steep terrain as well as changing wind conditions that repeatedly cause the flames to flare up. Water-dropping firefighting planes and helicopters are supporting ground crews, while on the ground firebreaks are being cut and hotspots secured. Coordination is carried out by the prefecture’s operational staff in close consultation with fire leadership and technical services.

Because of the intensity of the fire, an additional 120 soldiers of the Armée de Terre were mobilized to relieve civilian forces. According to official statements, the military are primarily deployed to reinforce embankment and firebreak work, to set up roadblocks, and to provide logistical support. This assistance is intended to curb the spread in hard-to-reach terrain and to allow rotation of exhausted firefighting crews. In parallel, further material reserves – including hoses, tank vehicles and protective equipment – were moved into the crisis area.

Several municipalities were evacuated as a precaution; two holiday camps with several hundred children were orderly moved to safe accommodations. Affected parents and helpers report a structured but tense situation: buses, community halls and emergency shelters are providing care, and psychological support is available. There are no confirmed fatalities at this time; some people, including emergency personnel, received medical treatment for minor injuries. Authorities advise residents to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid unnecessary travel into the affected areas.

State authorities have activated a situation centre and coordinated the crisis mechanism at national level. The Interior Ministry and the prefecture are in contact with regional services to reallocate personnel and resources as needed. Given the concurrently increased risk of wildfires in southern France, the resource situation is being closely monitored. The cause of the fire is under investigation; initial assessments consider both natural triggers such as lightning and negligent ignition. For the affected municipalities the situation remains volatile: evacuations may be extended or gradually lifted depending on the course of the fire. Météo-France warns of persistent dryness; fresh wind could further stress the fire lines. Authorities ask that official warning and information channels be observed and that open fires be strictly avoided in and around forests.