New evacuations after wildfire flares up again in Var

Brignoles – 31 July 2026: In the southern French department of Var, further evacuations were ordered on Friday, 31 July, after a wildfire flared up again. Franceinfo reported this in the evening. According to the report, a strong Mistral wind fanned the flames; around 500 firefighters were mobilised. The report initially did not specify which locations were affected by the new evacuations or how many people had to leave their homes. At the time of publication, no current statement from the prefecture containing these details was available.

The operation is connected to the fire at Gros-Bessillon, which has been keeping emergency and security services in the centre of the department occupied since 21 July. On 23 July, the Gendarmerie nationale stated that the fire had been contained. However, due to the Mistral, there was still a risk that smouldering hotspots could trigger new fires. According to the statement, up to 50 gendarmes were permanently deployed to secure the affected areas.

According to the Gendarmerie, by 23 July the fire had affected around 2,500 hectares and destroyed approximately ten buildings. The investigation into the cause was assigned to the investigative brigade in Brignoles under the supervision of the Draguignan public prosecutor’s office. In addition to firefighting, emergency personnel are checking access routes, securing endangered areas and keeping roads clear for fire and rescue services.

On 28 July, the Var prefecture published information on assistance for those affected by the fires in Taradeau-Les Arcs and Gros-Bessillon. In that statement, the Gros-Bessillon fire was still listed as ongoing. At the same time, the authorities announced simplified procedures for reporting damage. Under certain conditions, insurers are to reimburse residents of evacuated primary homes for the costs of temporary accommodation for up to three weeks.

Strong winds are making mop-up operations considerably more difficult. In dry vegetation, tree stumps or hard-to-reach slopes, smouldering hotspots can remain unnoticed for a long time. The Mistral supplies them with oxygen and can carry sparks over greater distances. Firefighters and security services therefore remain on the ground even after provisional containment.

For the public, warnings issued by the prefecture, municipalities and local emergency command centres are binding. Earlier evacuations do not constitute new orders; nevertheless, road closures and access bans should be strictly observed. On the evening of 31 July, the evacuations reported by Franceinfo and the mobilisation of 500 firefighters had not yet been supplemented by a detailed publicly available situation report from the prefecture.