France wildfires rage: 7,800 hectares burned, 22-year-old firefighter killed, 12,000 evacuated
France is battling severe wildfires amid an extreme heatwave, with 7,800 hectares burned in July alone. A 22-year-old firefighter was killed in Savoie. Over 12,000 people evacuated from 26 towns in Pyrenees-Orientales.
France is battling severe wildfires as an extreme heatwave continues to grip the country. According to French meteorological authorities, 72 departments are under orange heat alerts, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many areas and reaching 43°C in some southern towns.
The area burned by wildfires in France this July has reached 7,800 hectares, compared to 4,400 hectares for the entire month of July 2025 - a sharp increase year-on-year.
The most severe fire is raging in the Pyrenees-Orientales department in southern France, where 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) have been burned. Over 12,000 people have been evacuated from 26 municipalities. More than 800 firefighters are battling the flames from ground and air, but are struggling due to persistent high temperatures and gusty winds.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed via social media that a 22-year-old firefighter was killed while battling a blaze in the Savoie region in the French Alps on Tuesday night.
Rail services have been disrupted, with high-speed trains and a quarter of regional trains cancelled. Forest fire danger levels remain very high across multiple southern departments.
Tour de France organizers have banned spectators from lining the route in the Pyrenees mountain region to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.
The European Union has sent firefighting aircraft from Sweden and Cyprus to assist French efforts.
Translated by 119zj