France has grappled with devastating wildfires throughout its history, with 2022 marking a notably severe year for blazes across the nation.
France’s Scorching summers: A history of Devastating Wildfires
Table of Contents
- France’s Scorching summers: A history of Devastating Wildfires
- The Gironde Mega-Fires of 2022
- 2021: Fatal Fires in the maures
- Winter Fires Mark 2019
- Corsican Drought Fuels Fires in 2009
- Arson Suspected in 2003 Maures and Esterel Fires
- 1990 Sees widespread Destruction
- Thousands Evacuated in 1989
- A Record 80,000 Hectares burned in 1976
- The 1949 “Big Fire” Claims Lives
france endured a record-breaking wildfire season in 2022, with nearly 72,000 hectares of forest consumed by flames, a figure six times higher than the recent average. This intense heat and persistent dryness amplified the fire risk, leading to unprecedented events like those in the Jura region.
The Gironde Mega-Fires of 2022
The Gironde department was particularly hard-hit, experiencing mega-fires in the Arcachon basin near La Teste-de-Buch and in the Landiras area, south of Bordeaux. The summer saw nearly 600 fire outbreaks, forcing the evacuation of 48,000 people and destroying approximately 30,000 hectares of forest.
2021: Fatal Fires in the maures
In mid-August 2021, a powerful fire swept thru the Maures massif, located between cogolin and Collobrières. Fueled by swirling winds, the blaze consumed over 6,000 hectares in the hinterland of Saint-Tropez. Ten thousand people were evacuated, and tragically, two bodies were discovered in a burned-out house.
Winter Fires Mark 2019
While 2019 didn’t feature massive summer infernos, it was characterized by significant winter fires.
Corsican Drought Fuels Fires in 2009
Extreme drought made fires formidable in Corsica at the end of July 2009.The Gravona valley, north of Ajaccio, and the regions of Sartène and Aullene saw over 5,300 hectares burn.
Arson Suspected in 2003 Maures and Esterel Fires
In late July 2003, fires of suspected criminal origin ravaged the Maures massif, killing four people and prompting the evacuation of 6,000 vacationers and residents. A month later, in Cogolin (Var), three firefighters died when their truck was engulfed by flames. That summer, 20% of the Maures and Esterel massifs, approximately 20,100 hectares, were destroyed.
1990 Sees widespread Destruction
The summer of 1990 was particularly harsh for the Maures massif, with 12,500 hectares destroyed by late August.Between Aug. 21 and 25, fires ravaged 23,000 hectares of vegetation between Marseille and Nice.
Thousands Evacuated in 1989
July 1989, marked by warm and dry conditions, fueled numerous fire outbreaks in southern France. On July 20, a massive fire consumed 5,000 hectares of pine forest near Lacanau pond in the Gironde, forcing thousands of vacationers to evacuate. By late August, Marseille also faced the threat of flames. On the 29th, 10,000 hectares burned in the Southeast and Corsica in under 24 hours.
A Record 80,000 Hectares burned in 1976
the summer of 1976, characterized by extreme drought and an alleged act of arson, transformed the forest of La Palmyre in Charente-Maritime into an inferno on August 20. Hundreds of vacationers, trapped between the flames and the ocean, were evacuated by boat. That summer, a record 80,000 hectares burned across France.
The 1949 “Big Fire” Claims Lives
Starting on August 19 from a sawmill in Saucat,south of Bordeaux,a devastating fire consumed 50,000 hectares of pine forest within days. Eighty-two people, primarily forest agents, volunteer firefighters, and soldiers, perished fighting the inferno. This “big fire” in the Landes of Gascogne remains one of the deadliest in French history.
What was the deadliest wildfire in french history? The 1949 “big fire” in the Landes of Gascogne, which claimed 82 lives, remains one of France’s deadliest wildfires.
