Recently Added: 
This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
In southern France, forest fires that occurred in July 2025 caused extensive damage primarily in the Aude and Hérault regions, with the city of Marseille as the epicenter. These fires spread rapidly due to heatwaves and strong winds, affecting residential areas.
Forest fire in the city of Marseille in southern France, 9 July 2025 – (TV5 Monde)
A major forest fire began on 8 July 2025 in the Pennes-Mirabeau area north of Marseille, triggered by a vehicle fire on the A55 highway. The fire spread as far as the 15th and 16th arrondissements to the north. Wind speeds reaching up to 70 kilometers per hour caused the fire to spread rapidly. The vehicle fire, identified as the origin, combined with drought conditions and extreme heat to escalate into a disaster of catastrophic proportions.
Parallel to the fire in Marseille, another fire erupted near Narbonne in the Aude region, covering an area of 2,000 hectares. This fire is recorded as the third largest in the region. In the Hérault region, an area between Castelnau-de-Guers and Montagnac, measuring 300 to 400 hectares, was also consumed by fire.
More than 1,000 firefighters responded to the fires in Marseille and its surroundings, with over 700 concentrated on the Marseille fire. The firefighting effort included 220 fire engines, four Canadair aircraft, four water-dropping helicopters, and one Dash aircraft. Teams continued operations through the night of 7 July, exerting intense efforts to contain the fire’s advance.
On 8 July 2025, the 16th arrondissement of northern Marseille was placed under quarantine, forcing approximately 15,000 residents to remain in their homes. As the fire advanced, a total of 400 to 450 people were evacuated, including a 71-year-old resident of a care home in Pennes-Mirabeau. Four sports halls in various parts of the city were opened as evacuation centers.
The Marseille Provence Airport was temporarily closed, with some flights redirected to nearby cities such as Nice and Nîmes. Flights to Brussels, Munich, and Naples were canceled. High-speed TGV trains from Marseille to Aix-en-Provence were suspended temporarily, and local train and bus services in the region were disrupted. Key roads and tunnels, including the A55 and A9 highways, were temporarily closed to traffic.
A total of 110 people sustained minor injuries during the fires, including nine firefighters, 22 police officers, and several civilians. Four additional individuals were hospitalized due to severe respiratory distress. Residents were advised not to leave their homes, to close windows and doors, to place damp cloths over ventilation openings, and to keep roads clear for emergency responders.
In July 2025, forest fires in southern France affected large areas in the regions of Marseille, Aude, and Hérault. Flames that began with a vehicle fire spread to residential areas due to strong winds. Over a thousand firefighters and numerous aircraft responded to the fires, and hundreds of people were evacuated. Thousands of hectares of land were damaged in the Narbonne and Hérault regions.
No Discussion Added Yet
Start discussion for "2025 Southern France Forest Fires" article
July 9, 2025
Origin and Spread of the Fires
July 9, 2025
Response and Measures Taken