CANET-EN-ROUSSILLON, FRANCE / EuroWire / – A fast-moving wildfire forced nearly 3,000 people from campsites, homes and businesses in southern France after flames spread from Sainte-Marie-la-Mer to Canet-en-Roussillon near Perpignan. Firefighters deployed aircraft and ground crews on Thursday as strong wind pushed the blaze through a coastal area busy with summer visitors.
The fire started near the Sainte-Marie campsite and crossed the Têt River before reaching Canet-en-Roussillon. Authorities cleared three campsites and a nautical business area as a safety measure. Local officials said the evacuations took place in calm conditions, while crews worked near mobile homes, boats and industrial buildings.
The blaze formed part of a wider outbreak of wildfires across southern France. Emergency teams also fought a major fire along the Hérault and Aude departments. That fire burned about 900 hectares and drew hundreds of firefighters, dozens of vehicles and water-bombing aircraft as winds reached about 70 kilometers per hour.
Campsites and industrial area evacuated
In Canet-en-Roussillon, firefighters focused on protecting the port area and nearby businesses after flames damaged campsites and reached the nautical zone. Officials said hundreds of mobile homes burned. The industrial area included buildings with flammable materials, which made the operation more urgent for emergency crews and police managing road closures.
Authorities closed roads around the affected zone and opened reception points for evacuees. Perpignan airport also halted operations during the emergency. No official death toll was reported in the Canet-en-Roussillon fire. Some reports from the scene noted minor injuries among responders and people affected by smoke.
National response follows early fire season
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired a crisis meeting in Marseille as fires burned across the south. He said France had recorded about 7,000 fire starts since the beginning of the summer season. He also said 8,700 hectares had already burned, including around 1,200 hectares in one day.
Météo-France had placed several southern departments under high fire risk because of heat, wind, low humidity and dry vegetation. Firefighters remained active across coastal and inland areas from the Spanish border toward Marseille. Officials urged residents and visitors to avoid closed roads, follow evacuation orders and keep clear of forested zones under restrictions.