Wildfire in Southwestern France Forces Evacuation of 10,000 as Strong Winds Threaten Further Spread

A fast-moving wildfire in southwestern France has forced the evacuation of about 10,000 residents from two dozen towns and villages near the Spanish border, with authorities warning that strong winds are expected to worsen conditions and complicate firefighting efforts.

The blaze has burned approximately 4,600 hectares in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, according to local prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, who provided an update on social media. Emergency crews have been working around the clock to contain the fire, but officials said changing weather conditions are likely to fuel further expansion.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the situation had deteriorated again on Monday morning after a brief period of improvement.

“This morning conditions are deteriorating again,” Nunez told French broadcaster TF1. “Today the battle resumes.”

France has experienced unusually intense heatwaves during May and June, leaving forests and vegetation exceptionally dry. Similar conditions have affected much of western Europe, increasing the risk of large-scale wildfires across the region during the summer.

The wildfire is burning near the route of the third stage of the Tour de France. Organisers and local authorities have decided to keep the race on schedule, but public access to the affected section has been prohibited to allow emergency vehicles and firefighters to move freely.

Officials also announced that the convoy of team support vehicles following the cyclists will be significantly reduced to minimise congestion and ensure emergency services can operate without obstruction.

Across the border in Spain, firefighters have made progress against a separate wildfire in Catalonia. Authorities said the blaze, which consumed around 2,200 hectares, has been stabilised and is expected to be fully extinguished later this week.

Nearly all of the burned area lies within the protected natural landscape of Les Gavarres, an ecologically important region known for its forests and wildlife. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Police arrested an employee of a company contracted by the Catalan regional government on suspicion of accidentally starting the blaze while using an angle grinder beside a road. Investigators are examining whether sparks from the equipment ignited nearby vegetation during the hot and dry conditions.

Elsewhere in Spain, emergency crews are battling another wildfire in the eastern province of Castellon. Around 500 people have been evacuated after flames spread into the Sierra de Espadan Natural Park, an area renowned for one of the Mediterranean’s largest cork oak forests.

Authorities in both France and Spain have urged residents to follow evacuation orders and remain alert as weather conditions continue to pose a high wildfire risk. Firefighters remain on the front lines across multiple locations, with forecasts suggesting that strong winds and dry conditions could prolong efforts to bring the fires under control.