Wildfire near Pontvès: 1,100 firefighters continue battling active hotspots

Pontvès – July 22, 2026: Smoke is still rising from the slopes of Gros Bessillon, while firefighting helicopters are dropping water over the fire area on Wednesday morning. The fire broke out around midday on Tuesday in the municipality of Pontvès and, according to the Var prefecture, remains active. As weather conditions are expected to deteriorate again on Thursday, response teams aim to permanently contain the fire during the day.

According to a situation report issued by the prefecture at 9 a.m., the fire has already spread across around 2,500 hectares. During the night, as temperatures dropped and winds weakened, firefighters significantly reduced the intensity of the blaze and managed to keep it within the area already affected. Nevertheless, numerous hotspots still require extensive work, particularly with additional support from the air.

About 1,100 firefighters from the Var department and several neighboring regions are deployed with around 350 vehicles. Firefighting helicopters have been making repeated flights since early morning. Canadair water bombers and Dash aircraft are expected to join later. According to the prefecture, around 300 aerial drops of firefighting agents were already carried out on Tuesday. Fifty gendarmes are also assisting with evacuations, traffic restrictions, and security in the affected communities.

The impact on residents is severe. Around 500 people spent the night in municipal temporary shelters or with relatives and acquaintances. Only residents who had been evacuated in advance from Sillans-la-Cascade were able to return home during the night. According to preliminary information, 30 to 40 homes were damaged. The work of emergency services protected several hundred additional buildings.

Essential services have not yet been fully restored. As of Wednesday morning, authorities said that 340 households in Cotignac and 48 households in Pontvès were without electricity. During the night, up to 2,600 connections were affected. Grid operator Enedis is working to secure power lines and equipment before restoring supply to more households. Electricity supply to the well and wastewater treatment plant in Cotignac has already been restored.

The prefecture also announced that the Notre-Dame sanctuary and the Saint-Joseph monastery in Cotignac were protected from the flames. The tense situation continues in the affected municipalities of Pontvès, Cotignac, Correns, and Montfort-sur-Argens. Authorities are asking residents not to approach the operational area and to give emergency vehicles full priority on access roads.

Several departmental roads, including RD560, RD60, RD13, RD22, RD222, RD32, and RD45, remain closed. Ahead of Thursday, July 23, when stronger winds are expected, Prefect Simon Babre ordered additional precautionary measures. Events in and around forest areas, as well as the use of fire outdoors, flame-based barbecue equipment, and fireworks, are prohibited throughout the Var department on that day.