FireWatch Europe
When is wildfire season in France?
Risk is highest from June through September. The Mediterranean south — Provence, Occitanie, and Corsica — sees the most consistent activity, but extended heatwaves and drought can bring significant risk to the Atlantic southwest (Gironde, Landes) and even further north in unusually dry years.
What causes wildfires in France?
Most fires start through human activity — campfires, discarded cigarettes, agricultural or garden burning, and machinery or power-line sparks — made far more dangerous by heat, drought, and wind. Since June 2023, Météo-France has published a daily wildfire risk forecast for mainland France and Corsica, reflecting how closely conditions are now monitored.
How to stay safe
- Check the Météo-France wildfire risk forecast and your local prefecture's alerts before spending time in or near forested areas.
- Avoid campfires, barbecues, and any outdoor burning during high-risk periods — many departments restrict or ban this by law in summer.
- If you live in or visit a forested area, know your evacuation routes in advance, especially in the southwest pine forests and the Mediterranean south.
- Call 112 or 18 (the French fire brigade number) immediately if you spot smoke or fire, and follow local authority instructions without delay.
- Never attempt to fight a wildfire yourself.
Official resources
- 112 — emergency number (works throughout France and the EU); 18 also reaches the fire brigade directly within France.
- Ministry for Ecological Transition — official wildfire prevention guidance.
Live wildfire map for France
The map below shows the same live, satellite-detected hotspot data as the main FireWatch Europe map, centered on southern and southwestern France.
Sources
- EFFIS Annual Fire Reports (European Commission Joint Research Centre / Copernicus)
- 2022 Gironde wildfires — background on the Atlantic-southwest fires referenced above
- How does France's new wildfire risk forecast work? (The Connexion)