Wildfires rage across Southern France following record heatwave, thousands evacuated

Jul 2, 2026

Wildfires are raging across southern France following record-breaking heatwaves and severe drought, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from campsites in Frejus and Canet-en-Roussillon. Over 800 firefighters are battling the largest blaze in the Aude region near the Spanish border. While France reports no casualties from the current blazes, a father and son were killed by fires in Greece, where authorities are deploying satellite technology to combat the seasonal threat.

Southern France wildfires

▪Three fires in southern France, including two on the outskirts of Marseille, have burned approximately 2,990 acres (1,210 hectares).
▪Multiple wildfires are burning across southern France, driven by strong winds, dry vegetation, and lingering heat.
▪French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that nearly 7,000 fires have broken out since the start of the summer season, burning about 22,000 acres (8,700 hectares).

Greece wildfires

▪A wildfire in central Greece's Fthiotida region burned through forest and agricultural land on July 1, 2026.
▪At least three other wildfires broke out and were quickly contained in Greece on July 1, 2026, in Halkidiki, Salamina, and southern Greece.
▪Greece is integrating a dedicated array of four low-orbit satellites launched in May 2026 to monitor and combat wildfires.

Record heatwave conditions

▪The World Meteorological Organization warned that prolonged high temperatures, low humidity, and dry vegetation are raising wildfire risks across Western Europe.
▪France's weather service warned of another heat spike forecast for the week following July 2, 2026.

Mass evacuations

▪In Canet-en-Roussillon, spreading blazes forced the evacuation of 1,500 people from three campsites and destroyed dozens of mobile homes.
▪Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated in south-western France after a fire started at a campsite in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and spread to Canet-en-Roussillon.
▪More than 2,000 people were evacuated from six campsites near Frejus on July 1, 2026, due to a nearby forest fire.

Firefighting operations

▪Roughly 800 firefighters are deployed to battle the largest French wildfire in the Aude and Herault regions near the Spanish border.
▪Four water-bomber aircraft were deployed in the Aude region to support ground crews in bringing the fire under control quickly.
▪In Greece, 135 firefighters, 19 water-dropping planes, and six helicopters battled the wildfire in the Fthiotida region.

Wildfire casualties

▪A forest fire in northern Greece killed a father and his 12-year-old son in a woodland area northeast of Thessaloniki on June 30, 2026.
▪A June 2026 heatwave in France may have contributed to approximately 1,000 excess deaths according to health estimates.
▪No casualties have been reported from the wildfires currently burning in southern France.