Government mobilizes extensive resources against wildfires in the south

Paris – 03.07.2026: After the wildfires and brush fires that flared up since the beginning of the week in southern France, the government has reaffirmed a nationwide crisis mode. Government spokeswoman Maud Brégeon said this morning on the programme “Les 4 Vérités” that all necessary state resources have been mobilized to protect people, contain hotspots and support the personnel on site. Coordination is carried out through the prefectures, civil protection and the existing crisis teams in Paris and in the affected departments.

Since 1 July fires spread rapidly in the departments Hérault, Aude and Bouches-du-Rhône as well as in the Languedoc. Local authorities evacuated campsites, secured town edges and temporarily closed roads to bring firefighting vehicles and water cannons to the front lines. The Gendarmerie supported evacuations, set up detours and helped secure endangered areas. Meteorological conditions with heat, wind and dry vegetation greatly complicated the work of the fire services.

The government points to a combined approach: ground-based firefighting units and specialist teams from several departments, supported by aerial assets, are to hold fire lines and prevent rekindlings. Crisis information is also being centrally consolidated to quickly provide prefectures, emergency control centres and municipalities with situational pictures and recommendations for action. Brégeon stressed the importance of clear warning chains and appealed to residents and travellers to strictly observe closures and keep access routes clear for emergency vehicles.

Alongside firefighting efforts, the health situation is coming into focus. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist had already announced an initial tally of heat-related impacts. Authorities are reviewing deaths that could be linked to the current heat period and are adjusting capacities in emergency departments and for mobile aid services. Preventive advice – drink enough, avoid physical exertion during the hottest part of the day, look after neighbours and vulnerable people – has been amplified through municipalities, social services and warning channels.

Interior Minister Sébastien Lecornu additionally put civil protection forces on standby, according to the government, to be able to scale up quickly if the situation worsens. Travel and holiday traffic in the south remain under advisories for increased caution, particularly in forest-adjacent areas and along closed road sections. Authorities recommend closely following local prefecture announcements and official warning apps. High fire danger is expected in the coming days until the weather changes sustainably. The government’s aim is to allow evacuees to return quickly once areas are secured and infrastructure checks are completed.