An orange heat alert has been declared in 21 departments across France

Extreme heat has intensified in France, prompting authorities to raise the weather danger level to orange in 21 departments at once. The most difficult situation is developing in the southern regions of the country, where a high threat of wildfire spread also persists.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Meteo-France, the orange warning is in effect, in particular, in Gironde and Landes, where large-scale firefighting operations continue. A high fire danger level has been established in another 29 departments. In Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle, the situation is assessed as very dangerous.

One of the most serious hotspots remains the fire in Gironde, which broke out on July 22. The disaster has already destroyed more than 42 thousand hectares of territory, and over 220 thousand people have been evacuated from dangerous areas. Rescuers continue to battle the blaze from the ground and air, while the spread of the fire has been partially slowed.

Against the backdrop of an improving situation, authorities have resumed traffic on the A63 motorway in Gironde. Approximately 84 thousand residents of nine settlements who had previously left their homes due to the threat of fire have been given permission to return.

Meanwhile, the fire in the town of Brignoles in the Var department was fully extinguished during the previous night. The blaze destroyed approximately 130 hectares of territory. Four rescuers sustained injuries during the firefighting operations.

This year has already become unprecedented for France in terms of the scale of wildfires. Since the beginning of 2026, approximately 116 thousand hectares of territory have been engulfed by fire across the country.