Southern France Faces 'Very High' Forest Fire Risk Amidst Heat and Strong Winds

Six departments in southern France (Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Gard, Hérault, Aude, and Pyrénées-Orientales) will be under a red 'very high' alert for forest fires starting July 1, 2026. Eight departments are currently on a 'high' risk alert on June 30. This elevated risk is due to a combination of strong Mistral and Tramontane winds (up to 80km/h) and dried-out vegetation from a lack of rainfall and lingering heatwave conditions.