Storyline
Southern France wildfire evacuations amid heatwave
Fast-moving wildfires in southern France have forced thousands of residents to evacuate from affected regions, with nearly 1,000 firefighters and aircraft deployed to combat the blazes. The fires are occurring amid extreme heat, drought conditions, and are part of a broader wildfire crisis affecting southern Europe including Italy and Spain.
This is a long-running storyline that has developed over 14 days. The homepage highlights its most recent activity, so the outlet count there reflects the latest wave. The totals above cover the full run.
Southern FranceVar departmentFrench firefightersHeatwave conditionsSouthern Europe wildfire crisis
2026-08-02
2026-08-01
- France’s largest peacetime evacuation ends — with new fires erupting elsewhere
- Europe’s wildfire crisis shifts as some 200,000 French return but new blazes force thousands to flee
- Europe’s wildfire crisis shifts as some 200,000 French return but new blazes force thousands to flee
- Europe’s wildfire crisis shifts as some 200,000 French return but new blazes force thousands to flee
- Europe’s wildfire crisis shifts as some 200,000 French return but new blazes force thousands to flee
2026-07-31
2026-07-30
- As France tames wildfire and lets 84,000 evacuees go home, blazes flare across Europe
- As France tames wildfire and lets 84,000 evacuees go home, blazes flare across Europe
- France, Spain continue to battle unprecedented wildfires that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee
- See the devastating destruction of the wildfires in this French town
- Drone reveals charred forest landscape after wildfires scorch France
- 🔴 Fires in Europe live: France gives green light for 84,000 evacuees to return home
- Tens of thousands of French wildfire evacuees allowed to return home as cooler weather moves in
- Wildfires in Europe push emergency response to the limit
2026-07-29
- France battles worst wildfire disaster in decades as blazes spread across Europe
- Southern Europe burns as 3 firefighters die and France battles blaze 4 times the size of Paris
- France battles wildfire 4 times the size of Paris as 2 firefighters die in Greece
- France battles wildfire 4 times the size of Paris as soaring heat threatens new surge
- A heat wave threatens to reignite France’s mega-fire near Bordeaux
- France evacuates thousands as fires displace a third of a million in southwest Europe
- France evacuates thousands as fires displace a third of a million in southwest Europe
- A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France’s wildfire rages on
- A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France’s wildfire rages on
- A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France’s wildfire rages on
- A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France’s wildfire rages on
2026-07-28
- France orders 4,000 more evacuated as fires displace a third of a million across southwest Europe
- Wildfires force mass evacuations in France as flames produce their own weather
- France orders 4,000 more evacuated as fires displace a third of a million across southwest Europe
- Raging French wildfire closes in on missile and rocket factories as 4,000 are evacuated from beach resort
- France orders 4,000 more evacuated as fires displace a third of a million across southwest Europe
- France evacuates thousands as Spain PM says tide turning in wildfire fight
- France orders 4,000 more evacuated as fires displace a third of a million across southwest Europe
- France evacuates 4,000 more people as heat threatens wildfire fight across southwestern Europe
- Tourists evacuated from wildfire threat as France and Spain brace for new heatwaves
- French police look to avoid burglaries in evacuated areas as firefighting continues
- Fire evacuees start returning home in France's scorched southwest
- France evacuates 4,000 people as heat threatens wildfire fight across southwestern Europe
- France orders 4,000 more evacuated as heat threatens fragile hold on vast wildfire
- Firefighters in France try to hold back vast wildfire as heat returns to test their grip
- Firefighters in France hold back vast wildfire as heat returns to test their grip
- Firefighters in France hold back vast wildfire as heat returns to test their grip
- Firefighters in France hold back vast wildfire as heat returns to test their grip
- Firefighters in France hold back vast wildfire as heat returns to test their grip
- Live: Massive wildfire near Bordeaux 'remains stable' after calm night, local authorities say
- News Wrap: French firefighters battle massive wildfire
- Crews in France race against looming heatwave as they battle 'completely unprecedented fire'