Fast-moving wildfire in southern France forces hundreds to flee

The fire swept through wooded hills in the Var region, burning 1,700 hectares in just a few hours and prompting the evacuation of nearly 400 people, according to the local préfet.

"The situation has ‌been very difficult. Some 1,100 firefighters fought ⁠all night," said Commander William Vogl, a spokesperson for the ​Var firefighters, on RMC radio on Wednesday.

Firefighters confirmed that the blaze was contained, although it is still burning.

The Var prefecture said 2,300 households were left without power on Wednesday, mostly in ​the village of Cotignac. 

Before aircraft were grounded for the night, firefighting crews carried out more than 100 water and retardant drops using eight Canadair water bombers, four-water-dropping helicopters and two Dash aircraft.

The evacuations came just hours after two firefighters were killed battling a building fire near Bordeaux airport.

Major wildfires burn in southern France as early fire season hits Europe

Widespread destruction

Large parts of France, including the Var, have been on high alert for wildfires for weeks, with very dry conditions in the area causing an extreme forest-fire risk, according to the French weather service Météo-France.

Fuelled by repeated heatwaves and drought, the 2026 wildfire season began earlier than usual, and firefighters have been battling near-daily outbreaks across France in recent weeks.

Another major blaze burned 200 hectares and destroyed homes in the Var region between Sunday and Monday near Les Arcs-sur-Argens.

A major wildfire recently ravaged more than 2,000 hectares of the Fontainebleau Forest, destroying habitats and putting its diversity of plant and animal life under threat.

In the Alps, a lightning-sparked blaze that began five days ago had burned 130 hectares in a remote area of the Ecrins mountain range.

On the Mediterranean island of Corsica, firefighters were still battling a blaze near Corte after nine days.

Nearly 40,000 hectares have burned in France since the start of the year, "far more than was burned during the whole of last year", according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

Biggest French wildfire since 1949 a 'catastrophe on an unprecedented scale'

Spain has also suffered some its worst wildfires in recent history.  Thirteen people died in a blaze in southern Spain on 9-10 July, while a fire north of Madrid destroyed 12,000 hectares and forced several hundred people to evacuate, 

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent and many scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the intensity ⁠of heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, while also creating ⁠conditions ​for sudden, destructive storms.

(With newswires)