Severe Fire Risk Prompts Restrictions in Bouches-du-Rhône
Bouches-du-Rhône enforces strict fire safety measures amid severe wildfire threats.
Key Points
- • Bouches-du-Rhône implements strict forest access bans due to severe fire risk.
- • Wildfires have affected 700 hectares around Marseille, prompting temporary airport closures.
- • High temperatures, strong winds, and dry vegetation have compounded the fire risk in the region.
- • Météo-France has issued red alerts across multiple departments, including Var and Vaucluse.
On July 8, 2025, the Bouches-du-Rhône department is facing an extremely severe fire risk, prompting authorities to implement strict access and movement bans in designated forest areas. This decision comes as high temperatures, strong winds, and dry vegetation significantly elevate the chances of wildfires. Popular sites such as the Alpilles, Calanques, and Sainte-Victoire are among the areas that have been marked for complete access prohibition, as indicated on the daily updated maps published by the prefecture’s website.
Additionally, an ongoing wildfire situation has emerged in Marseille, where fires have consumed around 700 hectares. Despite the severity, officials describe the situation as "not static but managed." Meanwhile, the Marseille-Provence airport has temporarily closed due to the threat from nearby fires, which have escalated with incidents linked to vehicles catching fire. In response to the increasing fire hazards, Météo-France has placed Bouches-du-Rhône and two other departments, Var and Vaucluse, under red alert for forest fire risks, underscoring the gravity of the environmental challenges the region faces.