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PinnedThe fire has been contained, but it will still take several days to bring it under control and then extinguish itAfter 18 days of an extraordinary response effort, the Gros Bessillon fire was officially declared contained on Friday, August 7, at 7:00 p.m. (
However, firefighters are continuing their work, and extreme vigilance remains essential, as this fire—unprecedented in its duration and its three successive flare-ups (on July 21, 24, and 31), which have puzzled both experts and investigators—is still smoldering.
It will take several more days to bring it under control and then extinguish it completely.
It will take many months to rebuild (70 homes were affected, 41 destroyed) and for the 6,000 evacuees to overcome the trauma of the flames. |
It will take several years for nature to reclaim its place in this magnificent setting of
Gros Bessillon, now scarred.
The fire spread across 6,300 hectares and burned 5,700 hectares in the municipalities of Pontevès, Correns, Cotignac, Carcès, Montfort-sur-Argens, Châteauvert, and Barjols.
The Prefect of the Var thanks all those who have been mobilized since the start of this fire: the Var firefighters and reinforcements from across France and Europe, civilian and military personnel from civil protection, internal security forces, and the armed forces, staff from the prefecture and other government agencies, employees of the Departmental Council, mayors and their teams, healthcare workers, farmers, organizations, and volunteers, as well as all partners who have contributed—and continue to contribute—to protecting the population and supporting the affected communities.
This crisis, which is not yet over as of this evening, has also demonstrated the solidarity and commitment that such tragedies inspire. Let us thank each and every one of them here. |
Some key figures: 4,250 firefighters from the Var, 6,870 firefighters who came as reinforcements from all over France, 100 European firefighters, 200 gendarmes, 335 military personnel from the Engineering Corps and the 1st and 7th RIISC (Civil Security Training and Intervention Regiment), 3,500 vehicle inspections to enforce the ban on transporting fuel cans and gas lighters, 3,800 water drops...
450 firefighters remain on standby on site this weekend. Surveillance of the mountain ranges and checks in their surrounding areas are continuing.
Shared by a community member
The mistral picked up late this morning in the Gros Bessillon construction site area. It is expected to blow until late tonight and may exceed 55 km/h around 6:00–7:00 p.m. before conditions improve in the middle of the night. The heat is intense, approaching 40 °C.
The fire department’s safety measures for the most vulnerable areas are in place.
There have been 8 flare-ups along the fire’s edges since this morning, which were quickly brought under control by the
850 firefighters deployed on the ground, supported by water-bombing helicopters.
These resources can be scaled up if the situation changes, with 400 firefighters already pre-positioned throughout the department, which is classified as a red alert area for wildfires.
Two Canadair aircraft are also stationed in Hyères, and an aerial surveillance operation using the DASH aircraft has been activated.
Nearly 100 gendarmes have been deployed to the Gros Bessillon area, where six fires caused by human activity have been recorded since July 24.
Law enforcement is also conducting enhanced surveillance in the department’s other mountain ranges and carrying out vehicle inspections to enforce the prefectural order prohibiting the transport of fuel cans and gas lighters until the morning of Saturday, August 8.
3 road sections still closed
- RD 22 between Montfort and Le Val, from the RD 22/RD 222 intersection to the RD 22/RD 562 intersection
- RD 45 between Châteauvert and Vallon Sourn, in the town of Correns, from PR 0 (RD 554/RD 45 intersection) to PR 4 (Vallon Sourn)
- RD 562 between Le Val and Carcès: from the RD 562/RD 22 intersection to the RD 562/RD 45 intersection
Shared by a community member
The fire is no longer spreading, but caution is still advised.
After a quiet night during which firefighters continued to treat the fire’s edges and finalized measures to prevent any flare-ups, the operation continues with 1,000 firefighters on the ground and their 250 vehicles, supported by water-bombing helicopters and two Canadair aircraft stationed at the Hyères base.
While the Slovak and Czech helicopters have just completed their mission, European solidarity remains strong with the arrival of Serbian and Romanian firefighters—nearly 80 personnel and about 20 vehicles.
Reinforcements from all over mainland France and the overseas territories (Mayotte and Réunion) are taking over routine duties at the fire stations from the Var firefighters, thereby freeing up personnel for the Gros Bessillon fire site.
Weather conditions are expected to be much the same as yesterday, with hot temperatures,
with a forecast high of 36°C, 40% humidity, and a southeasterly wind at 20 km/h with gusts up to 40 km/h.
Current Restrictions
- Until Wednesday, August 5, the transport of fuel cans and gas lighters is prohibited throughout the Var department. The national police and gendarmerie are stepping up their checks to enforce these bans.
- The Sainte-Baume, Haut-Var, Maures, and Centre-Var mountain ranges are closed due to a very severe fire risk.
- Rest areas closed to traffic:
- A57 Highway: Lauvets, Suvé du Vent, Gonfaron, and Les Sigues;
- A8 Highway: Saint-Hilaire, Barcelone, Candumy, Roudaï, and Jas Pelicot.
Roadways closed
RD 45 from PR 0 to PR 4 from Châteauvert to Correns (RD 554 / RD 45 intersection)
RD 22:
- Between Cotignac and Montfort (from the RD 13/RD 45 intersection to the RD 22/RD 222 intersection)
- Between Montfort and Le Val, from the RD 13/RD 22 intersection to the RD 22/RD 562 intersection
RD 554: Le Val–Barjols route: from the RD 554/RD 562 intersection (Le Val) to the RD 554/RD 45 intersection (Châteauvert)
📍 Location: Gros Bessillon Massif (Var) – still active
🌍 Area affected: 6,000 hectares
🔥 Fire status: Spread halted despite strong winds (gusts of 50 km/h)
🚒 Resources deployed: 1,500 firefighters, 6 helicopters, 8 aircraft, 400 ground vehicles
🛠️ Situation on the ground: roads closed (RD 45, RD 22, RD 554); security provided by the gendarmerie and drones
🌤️ Weather conditions: South-southeast wind at 50 km/h, 28°C, low risk
👮 Investigation: ongoing, looking into possible arson
📍 Location: Gros Bessillon Massif (Var) – fire brought under control, hot spots addressed
🌍 Area affected: 6,000 hectares
🔥 Fire status: no flare-ups last night; work on the fire lines is ongoing
🚒 Resources deployed: 1,500 firefighters, 6 helicopters, 8 aircraft, military bulldozers
🛠️ Situation on the ground: 270 km of firelines secured, trails open for heavy equipment, major roads closed
Source: Var Prefecture
📍 Area: Correns (83)
🕡 Situation Report 45 at 6:30 p.m. — August 2, 2026
🟢 The operational situation is improving.
🏠 Population
- Preventive evacuations have been lifted in Correns.
- Affected residents may return to their homes.
- The lockdown in the village center has also been lifted.
🚗 Traffic
- The RD45 between Montfort-sur-Argens and Correns has reopened.
- The RD562 between Montfort-sur-Argens and Le Val is also open again.
🚒 Fire
- The fire department’s efforts have helped improve the situation.
- Monitoring operations, edge treatment, and efforts to prevent any flare-ups are ongoing.
- ⚠️ There is still a risk of the fire reigniting, particularly due to shifting winds.
⚠️ Caution is still advised. Please follow the authorities’ instructions.
📢 Source: Var Prefecture — press release dated August 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Shared by a community member
Shared by a community member