Wildfires in the Var: Gendarmerie searches for possible arsonists

Draguignan – 05.08.2026: In the southern French department of Var, the Gendarmerie is increasing its presence on roads and access routes to at-risk forest areas. After a fire has flared up fiercely again since Friday, investigators are examining whether it may have been deliberately set. The Draguignan public prosecutor’s office considers deliberate arson a serious hypothesis based on the information available so far.

The checks serve both to prevent danger and to support the investigation. Officers are trying to determine who was in the affected areas and at what time. They are watching for suspicious vehicles, unusual movements and observations at locations where flames broke out again. For residents and holidaymakers, the increased presence means additional checks in an already tense situation.

Patrols are monitoring access points, collecting information from the public and are intended to deter possible perpetrators. At the same time, emergency personnel are securing areas that could be relevant to the investigation into the cause of the fire. Whether the resurgence was actually caused by deliberate actions remains unclear. So far, authorities have not identified any suspect.

The investigation comes during an exceptionally challenging fire season for the department. As early as late July, numerous gendarmes were deployed alongside firefighters and emergency services. According to the national Gendarmerie, up to 50 personnel were continuously deployed at times. They secured evacuation zones and traffic routes, closed off at-risk areas and supported measures to protect the public.

According to the Gendarmerie, a major fire that broke out on 21 July affected around 2,500 hectares and destroyed about ten houses. The investigation into its cause was assigned to the investigative brigade in Brignoles under the authority of the Draguignan public prosecutor’s office. The renewed flare-up is now increasing pressure on the authorities to compare reports from the public with technical findings and potential evidence.

For the affected communities, the consequences extend beyond the criminal investigation. Checks disrupt traffic, forest paths remain dangerous, and renewed smoke could make further protective measures necessary. At the same time, investigators depend on precise information: details about locations, times, vehicles or conspicuous behavior can help reconstruct movement patterns. However, unconfirmed assumptions are no substitute for reliable evidence.

The public prosecutor’s office and the Gendarmerie have therefore so far remained cautious about individual leads. At this early stage, fire sites must be examined technically, witness statements reviewed and possible links between different outbreak locations clarified. What is certain at present is that the judiciary is officially investigating suspected deliberate arson and that the Gendarmerie has increased its patrols in the Var.