The situation in Pyrénées-Orientales eases after wildfire – Hundreds of personnel continue to secure the burned area

Pyrénées-Orientales – 09.07.2026: In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, the situation following the large forest fire in the Aspres region has noticeably stabilized. The Préfecture des Pyrénées-Orientales announced on Wednesday, July 8, that the fire front was developing favorably. However, the fire is not yet fully under control; scattered embers remain, and the operations command warns of a risk of reignition if strong winds return.

Progress has been aided by weaker winds and slightly lower temperatures. Aerial support from firefighting aircraft and helicopters assisted ground forces, where hundreds of firefighters held firebreaks, extinguished remaining smoldering areas, and protected sensitive locations such as forest edges near residential areas. Armored vehicles helped access difficult-to-reach sections, while clearing teams secured charred trees that could threaten roads.

According to authorities, several thousand hectares of vegetation have burned since the fire broke out on Saturday night; the Interior Ministry said on Monday that the figure was between 4,600 and nearly 5,000 hectares. Many residents had to leave their homes as a precaution. Some parts of the affected municipalities have been reopened, but some access roads remain controlled. Upon return, a safety procedure applies: buildings are checked for heat damage, sparks in roof structures, or damaged power lines. Local authorities and relief organizations are providing emergency shelter, drinking water, face masks, and psychosocial support to those affected.

The Préfecture des Pyrénées-Orientales is maintaining precautionary measures. Open fires, fireworks, and the burning of branches and leaves are prohibited at least until mid-July. Trails in the immediate fire area remain partially closed so as not to hinder the work of emergency services. Anyone in the surrounding area is asked to follow official notices through the prefecture’s channels and local information systems and, in the event of smoke, to call 18 or 112 immediately.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has pledged additional resources; national units are providing coordination support to local forces, including the central command unit and the Entente Valabre training facility. The Gendarmerie and the public prosecutor’s office are investigating possible causes of the fire. No confirmed conclusion has yet been reached; investigators are collecting evidence at several suspicious locations and recording witness statements.

Looking ahead to the coming days, the operations command notes that the underlying situation in southern France remains tense. Following a prolonged dry spell and low vegetation moisture, the risk of reignition remains elevated until rain moistens the ground and the edges of the burned areas. Residents and visitors are urged to dispose of cigarette butts properly, not to use equipment that could produce sparks near forests, and to keep forest access routes clear for emergency vehicles.