Wildfire near Cotignac: Residents return to destroyed homes

Cotignac – 24 July 2026: Following the devastating wildfire at Gros Bessillon, the first residents of Cotignac are returning to their homes and finding surroundings marked by ash, soot and fire damage. Since Tuesday, 21 July, the fire had spread rapidly from a field near Ponteves across the wooded hills of central Var. Precautionary evacuations had been ordered in several local areas.

The Var prefecture put the area affected by the fire at around 2,500 hectares on Wednesday morning. According to authorities, between 30 and 40 homes were damaged, while several hundred more buildings were protected by firefighters. Homes and animals were also affected by the fire in the municipality of Ponteves. A final assessment of the damage is not yet available.

For those returning, the situation is particularly distressing: buildings, vehicles and properties bear signs of fire damage, while ash and soot have settled far beyond the immediately affected areas. At the same time, the municipality of Ponteves urged residents not to use access roads towards Cotignac so that firefighters, civil protection teams and gendarmes can work without obstruction.

Despite the first opportunities for residents to return, the operation is not over. On Thursday, 23 July, the fire flared up again, according to Prefect Simon Babre. The danger remained in Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens in particular during the evening, where evacuation measures were still in place. Authorities reported that more than 500 people from Ponteves, Cotignac, Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens had been moved to safety as a precaution.

At times, more than 1,000 firefighters, as well as civil protection personnel, volunteer wildfire responders and gendarmes, were deployed. Firefighting aircraft and helicopters supported operations from the air. As early as 22 July, emergency crews had carried out nearly 300 water drops. Lower temperatures and lighter winds initially slowed the spread, but could not entirely prevent hotspots and later flare-ups.

Because of the tense situation, the prefecture banned events in and on the edge of forest areas on 23 July. The use of open flames, including barbecues, was also prohibited throughout the Var department. The measure was prompted by the high wildfire risk and the deployment of extensive emergency resources in the ongoing operations.

For Cotignac, securing the damaged homes is now a priority alongside continued firefighting efforts. Residents should enter cordoned-off areas only once clearance has been given and must keep emergency access routes clear. Whether the fire at Gros Bessillon could be brought fully under control on 24 July had not been officially confirmed by the editorial deadline.