- hot-spots
- forest fire
- France
- Forest fires in France
Problems
Forest fires are the most important threat to forest and wooded areas in Southern Europe, especially France. In recent years, the country has faced a growing threat from wildfires that have destroyed thousands of hectares of land, forced evacuations of residents and tourists, and posed serious risks to public health and the environment. Wildfires are not new to France, especially in the Mediterranean region, where hot and dry summers create favorable conditions for fires to ignite and spread. However, climate change has exacerbated the problem by increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves, droughts, and strong winds that fuel the flames. According to the Prometheus database on forest fires in the Mediterranean region, the total area burned in France in the four regions hit was 2,336 hectares for 2021, against 7,698 for 2020. One of the most devastating fires in recent history occurred in July 2022 in the Gironde region of southwest France near Bordeaux. A massive blaze that started in Landiras destroyed more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of pine forest and reignited a month later amid record-breaking temperatures and drought. The fire spread quickly to the neighboring Landes department and threatened residential areas and tourist attractions, such as the Dune de Pilat, Europe’s highest dune. About 10,000 people had to be evacuated to save them from the inferno that produced towering black plumes of smoke. More than 1,000 firefighters supported by planes dropping water eventually brought the fire under control. The Gironde fire was one of two huge wildfires raging in southwest France in 2023 as parts of France sweltered under record temperatures. A red alert was declared for the Gironde department and 14 others in western France. The other fire broke out in Louchats and burned 6,000 hectares of woodland. Over 16,000 people have had to leave their homes since the fires began.
Consequences of the devastating fires in France
The wildfires have caused material damage, human suffering, and environmental and health consequences. The fires have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and air pollution. The smoke from the fires has also affected the air quality and visibility in the region, posing health risks for people with respiratory problems or allergies. Moreover, the fires have destroyed habitats and biodiversity, threatening endangered species and ecosystems.
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Timelines
2023
April 17
The fire burned over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of land along the Mediterranean coast and spread across the border into northeastern Spain. France’s government sounded alarm about the growing risk of forest fires because of climate change, as hundreds of firefighters in the country’s arid south wrestled with their biggest woodland-destroying blaze in 2023.
2022
July 30
A massive wildfire broke out in the Gironde region of south-west France, near Bordeaux, and burned more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of pine forest. The fire was caused by a farmer burning agricultural waste and losing control of the flames. The fire reignited a month later amid record-breaking temperatures and drought and spread to the neighboring Landes department, threatening residential areas and tourist attractions, such as the Dune de Pilat, Europe’s highest sand dune. About 10,000 people had to be evacuated to save them from the inferno that produced towering black plumes of smoke. More than 1,000 firefighters supported by planes dropping water eventually brought the fire under control.
2019
August 20
A wildfire erupted in the Gard department in the Occitanie region and burned about 500 hectares of land, mainly scrubland and forest. The fire was caused by a discarded cigarette butt that ignited dry vegetation and was propelled by hot and windy conditions. Over 600 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze, threatening several villages and campsites. About 700 people were evacuated.
2018
February 24
A wildfire started in the Haute-Corse department on the island of Corsica and burned more than 2,000 hectares of land, mainly scrubland and forest. The fire was caused by a farmer burning agricultural waste and losing control of the flames. Over 300 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire, hampered by strong winds and rugged terrain.
2017
July 26
Summer wildfires are again blazing across southern Europe, forcing the evacuation of 12,000 people on France’s Mediterranean coast and devouring swaths of forests as far afield as Corsica, Portugal, Italy and Albania.
July
Several wildfires raged across southern France and Corsica, burning more than 7,000 hectares of land and forcing more than 12,000 people to be evacuated. The fires were sparked by lightning, arson or negligence, spreading rapidly due to hot and dry weather and strong winds. More than 4,000 firefighters and soldiers were mobilized to fight the flames, threatening homes, campsites and infrastructure.
2016
September 05
Another wildfire erupted near Marseille, in the Calanques National Park, and burned about 2,600 hectares of land, threatening residential areas and tourist sites. Over 1,000 firefighters were deployed to contain the fire, fueled by dry and windy conditions. About 20 people were injured and thousands were evacuated.
August 10
A wildfire broke out near Vitrolles, north of Marseille, and burned over 3,000 hectares of land, destroying dozens of homes and vehicles. More than 1,800 firefighters battled the blaze, fanned by strong winds and high temperatures. About 25 people were injured and hundreds were evacuated.