France deploys near-millennial force as Var wildfire triggers mass evacuations
Fast-moving blaze in southern France forces nearly 400 residents from Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens, and Correns as dry conditions fuel extreme fire risk.
Nearly 1,000 firefighters and dozens of aircraft were deployed on Tuesday to combat a rapidly expanding wildfire in the Var region of southern France, which burned 1,700 hectares in a matter of hours. The blaze, which originated in Ponteves, forced the evacuation of approximately 400 people from surrounding villages including Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens, and Correns. Authorities confirmed that 2,300 homes lost power overnight, while one fire engine was damaged and six individuals suffered minor smoke inhalation.
Simon Barbre, the prefect for the region between Marseille and Nice, described the fire’s movement down Gros Bessillon mountain as moving at an unanticipated speed despite weakening winds. The prefecture reported that evacuations were concentrated around the villages of Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens, and Correns, with many displaced residents originating from Ponteves and the nearby village of Sillans-la-Cascade.
Var fire chief Eric Grohin confirmed that between 900 and 950 firefighters were deployed on the ground, describing the situation as the absolute priority for the area. Grohin noted that the fire had grown enormously and was spreading to additional villages, characterising the event as a major disaster. Isabelle Scarica, a volunteer in Ponteves, echoed this assessment, stating the situation was a major disaster as she and other volunteers prepared food for emergency crews.
Before aircraft were grounded for the night, firefighting crews conducted more than 100 water and retardant drops. The aerial response included eight Canadair water bombers, four water-dropping helicopters, and two Dash aircraft. Météo-France cited very dry conditions creating an extreme forest fire risk, fuelled by repeated heatwaves and drought across the region.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez highlighted the broader context of the 2026 wildfire season, noting that nearly 40,000 hectares have burned in France since the start of the year. This figure significantly exceeds the total burned during the whole of the previous year. The season began earlier than usual, with near-daily outbreaks reported in recent weeks.
Other active wildfires were reported across the country. In the Alps, a lightning-sparked blaze in the remote Écrins mountain range had burned 130 hectares over five days. Meanwhile, in Corsica, firefighters continued to battle a nine-day-old fire near Corte. A separate major blaze in the Var region near Les Arcs-sur-Argens had previously burned 200 hectares and destroyed homes between Sunday and Monday.
