Var wildfire reignites, destroying 1,000 hectares, trapping Correns
A rekindled blaze has ravaged an additional 1,000 hectares in the Var, cutting off a village and placing heavy strain on regional emergency infrastructure.
A wildfire in the Var has reignited, destroying a further 1,000 hectares in just six hours and cutting off the village of Correns. The new blaze broke out to the south of a previous fire that firefighters had brought under control at the start of the week. That earlier incident had already burned through 4,500 hectares of land.
Infrastructure and Evacuations
The rekindled flames have rendered all access roads to Correns impassable. The village, home to around a thousand inhabitants, is now completely cut off from the outside world. Authorities have confined the local population as emergency services focus on battling the advancing fire.
Near the Gros Bessillon massif, the scale of the threat has forced the evacuation of 2,500 people. The repeated displacement of residents underscores the severe disruption to public life caused by the ongoing extreme weather.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Fanned by the mistral wind and temperatures close to 40 degrees, the fire spread rapidly. Firefighters had anticipated the risk of the embers reigniting due to these weather conditions. Météo-France has issued an orange heatwave alert for the Var département until midday on Saturday. The meteorological agency has classified Saturday as a high-risk day because of the wind and heat.
Emergency Response
The scale of the emergency has required a large deployment of regional resources. Seven hundred firefighters are currently working to contain the blaze on the ground. This force is backed by an aerial fleet comprising six water-dropping helicopters, eight Canadair water bombers, and two Dash aircraft.
Simon Barbre, the prefect of the Var, described the cumulative impact of the disasters. "The Var is experiencing an appalling tragedy" this summer, he stated. This incident marks the fourth major wildfire to hit the centre of the département since 19 July. The frequency of these fires is placing a heavy strain on regional emergency resources.
