US EditionResidents Evacuated as Forest Fire Blazes in Southern France
AUDE, FRANCE, JUL 7 – The wildfire near Narbonne is the third in the Aude department this season, with over 2,000 hectares burned and strong winds fueling the fire, officials said.
- A massive wildfire burned nearly 2,000 hectares near Narbonne, France, starting Monday afternoon and causing evacuations and highway closures by July 8, 2025.
- The fire spread rapidly due to persistent winds and dry vegetation following a 16-day heatwave that ended the previous Friday, matching the 2003 heatwave duration.
- Over 1,000 firefighters, supported by aircraft, battled the flames overnight amid high fire risk, while several homes were partially damaged and 400 residents evacuated.
- Frederic described seeing flames rising over 30 metres high and said he had never experienced a fire of such immense scale near his home, while officials cautioned that the blaze was still not under control.
- Officials confirmed fire intensity decreased but warned of risky conditions and ongoing containment challenges, highlighting climate change’s role in increasing extreme heat and wildfire frequency.
13 Articles
13 Articles
In a large fire in the south of France about 2000 hectares of forest have been burned near the town of Narbonne. It is the third forest fire in the Aude department within a week. Heat and wind contributed to the spread of the flames.
Residents evacuated as forest fire blazes in southern France
A forest fire blazed in southern France Tuesday, after it crept across an area the size of 2,000 rugby pitches of trees, causing an autoroute to Spain to close temporarily and residents to evacuate their homes. The fire, the latest of several in the area in recent days, started on the property of a winery south of the city of Narbonne on Monday afternoon, then spread rapidly due to wind and parched vegetation after a heatwave.
Wildfires in southern France mark start of season spurred by high temperatures
A wildfire has burned through 2,000 hectares of vegetation near the southern French city of Narbonne, leading to the closure of the A9 highway, linking France and Spain. It is the third wildfire in the department since last week’s heatwave, marking the start of what could become a record fire season.
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