Fire

Major fire breaks out at one of France’s most popular Christmas markets

The cause of the blaze has yet to be officially determined

One of France’s oldest and ‘plus beaux’ hilltop villages evacuated due to wildfire

Roads were closed off as 800 firefighters fought to control the blaze in southern France. Around 400 hectares of forest have been destroyed

Wildfire strikes in south of France: residents warned to clear land

80 firefighters deployed to stop blaze spreading due to strong wind

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Fears of ‘mad pyromaniac’ burning cars and trees in chic area of Nice

Investigators suspect the perpetrator to be ‘an isolated individual not in full possession of his faculties’

Land clearance in France: rules, fines and tax credits for garden work

Spring is coming and neglected gardens will soon get out of hand

Scams multiply as price of firewood rises in France

Buyers are advised to call companies directly and not to purchase via Facebook pages - which can be faked

Resident and environmental fears after French lithium warehouse fire

The fire has now been contained but residents and environmental campaigners have condemned the situation as ‘very severe’

Wood burning stoves: what are the rules in France?

Homeowners must follow the requirements of insurance companies and government standards

Linky meters suspected to be cause of two house fires in France

The fires are not thought to be connected but are the latest controversy to hit the smart devices

Firewood scam: Three sentenced for €100,000 website fraud in France

The scammers stole €30,000 on a single website alone, and took advantage of a firewood shortage to trick customers with too-good-to-be-true offers

Is it correct that France wants to crackdown on open fires in homes?

Rumours of a proposed ban in 2025 have gained traction on social media

Tips to help avoid chimney fires as numbers increase in France

Correct wood, regular upkeep; we look at what you can do to reduce the risk

Why ground in south-west France is still burning from 2022 forest fire

Experts are worried about the knock on effect of these smaller fires

Fire at French wildlife park home to bears and big cats

Around 170 firefighters attended the scene and all animals and workers were evacuated

What can I do to stop my French neighbour’s regular garden bonfires?

Burning garden waste is normally illegal in France. We look at what you can do if your neighbour breaks this rule

Eleven people dead after fire at holiday home in France

A group of mentally disabled people were on holiday at the property when the blaze broke out on Wednesday morning

Major fire breaks out at grain silos on France’s west coast

Smoke from the blaze in La Rochelle could be seen from the neighbouring Vendée department

Deadly French holiday home fire: Gîte ‘had not passed safety checks’

Eleven people were killed in the blaze

Dinosaur-era tree found, heroic baker: 5 feel-good French news stories

We try and prove it was not all bad news this week in France

Hundreds evacuated after blaze at campsite in southern France

The fire is now under control after more than 800 people were evacuated overnight

Suspected lightning strike sparks major fire at French village church

The blaze caused the roof and the top of the bell tower to collapse

Homemade garden fire protection system in France

A Connexion reader shares their solution to the threat of wildfires to their garden this summer

Wildfires: French law may require you to cut back at-risk vegetation

In southern regions of France, residents whose property is within 200m of woodland must prune or clear plants which could enable a fire to spread

Recap: 5 practical updates from the last week in France

Changes cover online prescriptions and the launch of a new ZFE low pollution car zone

France plans to better protect officials after arson at mayor’s home

The new proposals are in response to the resignation of Yannick Morez as mayor of a French town after an arson attack at his home

French mayor quits over fire at his home linked to asylum hub support

It prompted French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to say her government wants to “better protect” such officials

Half of France on storms alert as wildfire risk intensifies in south

A warning has been issued to more than 50 departments over storms on Wednesday afternoon and into the night

Notre-Dame fire: What is France doing to protect its other cathedrals?

Four years on from the blaze at the Paris landmark, France is investing €220 million to guard against a repeat elsewhere in the country

Homes evacuated as fire ravages 10 hectares in forest near Nice

The fire saw 54 people evacuated early Saturday morning and a homeless man arrested suspected of starting the fire to keep warm

Video of drinkers carrying on as normal amid protest blaze goes viral

In the clip, they barely look up to notice a fire raging in the street behind them

French mayor’s house torched amid tensions over asylum seeker centre

The attack in a town near Nantes has been branded cowardly and unacceptable

Forest fires in France: Cameras to be used more to prevent blazes

The cameras work 365 days a year, 24/7, and can detect smoke on the horizon before a fire gets out of control

At least 10 dead including five children in apartment fire near Lyon

The fire began in a seven-storey building at around 03:00. The child victims were aged between three and 15

Heat your house in France with wood? How to apply for aid

France is dedicating €230million to helping households that heat with wood or wood pellets, with €50-€200 available per home, as prices soar. Here’s how to apply

French volunteer firefighters should get more money, authorities say

After a record summer for wildfires, France’s departments are stressing the need to make firefighting a more attractive prospect for volunteers

French woman jailed for starting ‘revenge fire’ in neighbour's garden

‘Se mettre au diapason’: Our French expression of the week

We look at a musical expression related to the idea of being in tune with another person or a certain situation

We must prepare homes now for flash floods, says French fire chief

Intense hot weather often leads to storms and heavy rainfall, which causes floods when landing on dry, hard ground

Fire in Brittany’s mythical ‘King Arthur forest’ has been halted

A 24-hour blaze in the Forêt de Paimpont, which is linked to legendary tales of King Arthur and Merlin, has been contained

Volunteer firefighter arrested for Hérault fires: What we know so far

Local residents are in shock after the man arrested for setting several fires in the south of France has been revealed to be a local councillor and father-of-two

Arson suspected in two wildfires in southern France

Separate fires in Ardèche and Hérault are now the subject of criminal investigation (although there is no suggestion that they are linked)

French wildfires: Airbus tests way to adapt plane into water bomber

Trials show that the A400M military cargo transporter plane can be easily transformed and can drop 20 tonnes of water in just 10 seconds

Explainer: France’s obligatory anti-wildfire garden clearing rules

Who has to carry out débroussaillage, when and how much has to be cut back?

Access to the Dune du Pilat reopens after Gironde forest fire closure

The popular tourist destination is very close to the blaze in La Teste-de-Buch, which has burnt 7,000 hectares of land

Trapped, injured or fleeing: the animals caught in France’s wildfires

While 1,000 animals were being moved from a Gironde zoo, a vet was visiting local communes to feed the pets of evacuated residents

What’s coming up? The week ahead in France

The Tour de France Femmes picks up pace and the Fêtes de Bayonne returns after two years of Covid-related disruption. We also explain a date for history buffs

Could a Middle Ages law be reason for wildfire in southwest France?

Thousands of hectares of forest in Teste-de-Buch were destroyed in a huge blaze that has only just been contained

GRAPHS: See how recent French wildfires compare to previous years

This comes as firefighters manage to ‘contain’ the blazes in Gironde, with evacuated people beginning to return home

French wildfires: situation stabilising but evacuees cannot return

The Gironde prefecture has said that the fires are now judged to be ‘contained’ but that not all the safety requirements have been met to allow people to return

Wildfires to become daily reality in France by 2023, warns fire chief

The prediction comes as tens of thousands of hectares continue to burn across the country, prompting calls for more government funding and prevention measures

People in Ile-de-France can smell smoke of Gironde fires 500kms away

Firefighters in the capital have urged residents not to worry unduly. Gironde’s prefect says that the department is today ‘starting to see results’ from effective new firewalls

Wildfires in France: Why is it so difficult to get them under control?

The two fires which are currently raging across Gironde are being fed by high heat, wind and dry vegetation, and difficult terrain is complicating firefighters

South-west France giant wildfires still spreading, situation worsens

Nearly 13,000 hectares have been destroyed and over 16,000 people evacuated

Heatwave alert extends to 16 French departments, wildfires continue

Two fires are still raging in the south-west, having already burnt over 7,500 hectares of land. Temperatures of around 40C are expected this weekend making firefighters’ efforts more difficult

French wildfires continue: 7,000 hectares burnt, buildings damaged

The fires continue to burn in Gironde, but another fire which destroyed 300 hectares in south-east France has now been contained

More people evacuated as south-west France wildfires rage on

One fire has been ‘stabilised’ but not ‘controlled’. Today’s high temperatures of up to 40C and wind will make it difficult to continue tackling the flames

French communes cancel July 14 firework displays due to wildfire risk

Several places in Bouches-du-Rhône and Gard are affected by cancellations as a heatwave hits the southwest of the country

70 evacuated, 620 hectares destroyed in new south of France wildfire

The blaze in the Gard department threatens to continue for several days despite almost 700 firefighters attending the scene

French mayor bans smoking in village and cars due to forest fire risk

The decree aims to raise people’s awareness, especially as the village is surrounded by dry pine forest

Almost 1,000 hectares destroyed in wildfire in southern France

The blaze is still ongoing although now less dangerous. Authorities say it is too early to tell if it was started deliberately

2,000 campers evacuated as forest fires break out in south of France

A fire brigade spokesman warns: ‘Right now, the whole of France could catch fire at any moment’

Forest fire risk in France: ‘Difficult’ summer predicted ahead

A fire colonel who helped put out an 80-hectare fire at the weekend said that the indicators of drought and risk of forest fires ‘do not look good’

Wildfire risk: Several forests in southeast France closed to public

The ban on entering the areas in the Var is set to last until at least tomorrow (June 9) as drought conditions and strong wind increase fire risk

What is the law on burning waste in my French garden?

We take a look at the specific rules on garden waste disposal in France

Where can I safely dispose of a smoke detector in France?

Smoke alarms have been mandatory in homes in France since 2015

Temperatures to climb once again in France, breaking seasonal records

Predictions that historic highs for May could be exceeded this week will likely come true, as a heat dome brings temperatures of 30-34°C

149 electric buses suspended in Paris area after two fires in a month

A second incident occurred on Friday when a bus caught fire in the 13th arrondissement

French firefighter pilots plan strike ahead of ‘worryingly’ dry summer

The Canadair and Dash plane pilots say they are ‘sounding the alarm’ over pay delays and lack of recognition for the danger of their profession as wildfire risks continue

Homes evacuated: Dry weather leads to multiple wildfires across France

Blazes were reported in western, eastern and southeastern regions over the weekend. At least one is thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette butt

Eighth body found after building explosion in southern France

Investigators have opened an inquiry into possible arson after gas canisters were found nearby

Housing found for homeless man who saved Lyon shopkeeper from fire

Fabrice will also receive a medal which he says he will accept as his parents, who are no longer alive, would have been proud

I live near site of Var wildfire: How can I donate to help victims?

Several Var mairies are accepting donations of money, food and clothes for people affected by last week’s fire

British woman rescued from flames after explosion in French house

Residents of the Aude village of Bellegarde-du-Razès were disturbed by the blast on Friday night, and rushed to help the woman, who suffered burns to her body

Fire at metal plant in Ariège confines residents to their homes

Black smoke was seen coming from the Aubert & Duval factory this morning, prompting the prefecture to advise locals to stay indoors while firefighters dealt with the situation

Too soon to assess impact of forest fire on French rosé harvest

Dramatic images of the recent Var wildfires have led to fears of a bad harvest this year