France’s Wildfires Burn Double the Land Compared to Last Year
Wildfires have burned more than 25,000 hectares across France so far this year—twice the area scorched during the same period in 2025—as successive heatwaves and extreme temperatures continue to intensify the country's wildfire season, officials said on Friday.
France Wildfires Scorch Twice the Land Burned Last Year as Heatwave Grips Country
France has witnessed a sharp surge in wildfire activity this year, with blazes burning more than twice the area destroyed during the same period in 2025, as the country battles another intense heatwave. Speaking on Friday, Julien Marion, Director General of Civil Security, said authorities have recorded over 8,000 wildfire outbreaks since the start of the year, scorching more than 25,000 hectares of land.
“Since the beginning of the year, we have recorded a little over 8,000 fire outbreaks in our country, affecting an estimated burnt area of more than 25,000 hectares,” Marion said.
He noted that the burned area is roughly double what had been recorded by the same date last year.
Third Heatwave Since May
The worsening wildfire season comes as France experiences its third heatwave since May, with parts of western France placed under the country’s highest heat alert on Friday. Firefighters have spent the past week battling multiple blazes across several regions.
Scientists have consistently linked the growing frequency and severity of such extreme weather events to human-driven climate change.
Climate Council Warns of ‘Dangerous Zone’
The latest fires come a day after France’s High Council for Climate warned that the country’s efforts to address global warming remain insufficient.
“We are entering a dangerous zone,” climate expert Valérie Masson-Delmotte said, warning that France’s infrastructure, ecosystems and land-use planning were designed for climatic conditions that no longer exist.
Government Steps Up Heat Response
The prolonged heat has also had a significant public health impact. Official figures show more than 2,000 excess deaths during the June heatwave and another 300 deaths linked to the hot spell in late May.
To protect vulnerable people, including the elderly and homeless, the government said it will open dedicated cooling centres across the country. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon also announced that 6,000 air-conditioning units have been installed in hospitals as part of a wider plan to deploy 30,000 units nationwide.
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