A fresh wildfire has erupted in France's Var department, rapidly consuming 1,000 hectares in just six hours. The new outbreak occurred to the south of a previous fire that had been successfully brought under control earlier in the week after scorching 4,500 hectares. This incident marks the fourth major wildfire to strike the center of the department since July 19.
Authorities had been on alert for a potential flare-up, as the combination of mistral winds and temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius fanned remaining embers. Simon Barbre, the prefect of the Var, described the situation as an “appalling tragedy” for the region this summer.
The impact on the local community has been significant. Approximately 2,500 people have been evacuated from areas near the Gros Bessillon massif. Additionally, the village of Correns, home to roughly 1,000 residents, is currently isolated from the outside world. Access roads have been rendered impassable by the flames, leaving the local population confined.
A massive emergency response is underway, involving 700 firefighters supported by a fleet of six water-dropping helicopters, eight Canadair water bombers, and two Dash aircraft. Looking ahead, Saturday has been categorized as a high-risk day due to ongoing heat and wind conditions, with Météo-France maintaining an orange heatwave alert for the department until midday.
