The situation in the Pyrénées-Orientales has calmed down after the forest fire – Hundreds of emergency responders continue to secure the fire area

Pyrénées-Orientales – 09.07.2026: In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, the situation has noticeably stabilized following the large forest fire in the Aspres. On Wednesday, July 8, the prefecture spoke of a favorable development of the fire front. However, the fire is not yet fully under control; isolated hotspots remain, and the operations command warns of the risk of flare-ups if the wind strengthens.

Progress was aided by calmer winds and slightly lower temperatures. Aerial support with firefighting aircraft and helicopters assisted ground operations, during which several hundred firefighters maintained firebreaks, extinguished smoldering areas, and secured sensitive zones such as forest edges near settlements. Armored vehicles helped reach difficult-to-access sections, while clearing teams secured charred trees that threatened transport routes.

According to authorities, several thousand hectares of vegetation have been destroyed since the fire broke out on the night between Friday and Saturday; the Interior Ministry stated on Monday that the affected area was between around 4,600 and just under 5,000 hectares. Numerous residents had to leave their homes as a precaution. Parts of the affected communities have since reopened, but some access points remain controlled. A safety protocol is in force for returning residents: buildings are checked for heat damage, embers in roof spaces, and damaged electrical systems. Municipalities and relief organizations are temporarily providing emergency shelters, drinking water, respiratory masks, and psychosocial support to those affected.

The prefecture is maintaining preventive measures. Open fires, fireworks, and the burning of pruning waste and plant residues are prohibited at least until mid-July. Hiking trails in the immediate fire zone remain partially closed so as not to hinder the work of emergency services. Anyone in the area is asked to follow official instructions via prefecture channels and municipal alert systems and, in the event of smoke development, to call 18 or 112 immediately.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had promised additional resources; national units are supporting local firefighters with coordination, including the central operations command and the Entente Valabre training organization. The Gendarmerie and the public prosecutor’s office are examining possible causes of the fire. There are currently no confirmed findings; investigators are collecting evidence at several suspected points of origin and gathering witness statements.

Looking ahead to the coming days, operations officials are drawing attention to the persistently critical underlying situation in southern France. After a long period of drought and low vegetation moisture, the risk of reignition remains high until rainfall moistens the ground and the edges of burned areas. Residents and tourists are urged to dispose of cigarette butts carefully, not to use devices capable of generating sparks near forests, and to keep forest access routes clear for emergency vehicles.