Météo France has placed six departments in south-eastern France under red alert for forest and bush fires on Thursday 2 July and throughout Friday 3 July. The Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse are affected by this maximum alert.
A risk exacerbated by extreme weather conditions
Forecasters at Météo France say that high temperatures and strong winds, in particular the tramontane and the mistral, significantly increase the risk of fires starting and spreading. A red alert is issued when ‘weather conditions make the risk of forest and vegetation fires starting and spreading very high compared with summer norms’.
Other departments on orange alert
In addition to the six departments shown in red, six others were in orange alert (“high risk”) this Thursday: Drôme, Ardèche, Aveyron, Tarn, Haute-Garonne and part of Charente-Maritime. The south of Drôme is on red alert.
The orange alert level means that “weather conditions are significantly increasing the risk of forest and bush fires starting and spreading, compared with normal summer conditions”. Forecasters point out that “the risk of fire may be very high in some areas”.
Reminder of safety guidelines
In light of this situation, the authorities are reiterating the importance of complying with the fire bans and to avoid any activity that could cause sparks in or near wooded areas. It is also recommended that you Do not throw away cigarette ends and to park vehicles only in open areas, away from dry vegetation.
To track the status of alerts in real time, please visit the Météo France weather reports and the guidance from the prefectures.