Major Wildfire in Var Fixed After Eight Days, Several Regions in France Still on High Alert

The fierce wildfire known as the Gros Bessillon fire in the Var region of France has been officially declared fixed on July 28, 2026, following eight days of intense firefighting efforts. This significant blaze, which began in Pontevès, threatened multiple nearby municipalities including Cotignac, Carcès, Montfort-sur-Argens, Correns, Châteauvert, Barjols, and Brue-Auriac. Approximately 5,000 residents were evacuated as a precaution, although some neighborhoods in Correns and Barjols remain under evacuation orders as firefighters continue security operations to ensure safety.

Multiple roads such as RD 35, RD 560, RD 554, and RD 45 were closed to facilitate ongoing firefighting efforts. In the Gironde region, while 14 flare-ups were recorded on Tuesday, authorities indicated that the situation remains stabilized. Meanwhile, Météo-France has placed 16 departments, including Gironde and Landes, on orange heatwave alert as conditions remain critical with continuing fires.

In the Seine-et-Marne area, a departmental operational center has been active since July 12 to address fires in the Fontainebleau massif. Preventive measures have been extended, including bans on forest access until July 31 and restrictions on traffic on the A6 motorway, with 275 firefighters deployed to monitor and combat these fires. Nearly 2,000 hectares have been affected so far, but no casualties have been reported.

Authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant in the face of elevated fire risks driven by ongoing heatwaves and dry conditions. Firefighting teams, alongside local authorities, remain on high alert to prevent further spread and mitigate impacts on communities.