Wildfires: A summer under close watch in France as well

After a spring ranked among the hottest ever recorded in France by Météo-France, and with a scenario that is hotter than seasonal norms considered “the most likely” this summer for France, the wildfire risk is rising — Fabian Jones.

The French meteorological agency states that a “hotter-than-seasonal-average scenario is the most likely for France” in June, July, and August. In Corsica, the risk of a hotter-than-normal summer rises to 60% over the next three months. While mega-fires are ravaging Canada, what is the situation regarding wildfire risk in our country?

Between 2000 and 2025, more than 2,000 forest fires of at least 30 hectares were recorded in France. The year 2019 remains, to date, the most significant, with 304 fires recorded. However, 2025 is already shaping up to be one of the most intense years: as of June 3, 218 fires had already been counted. These figures must nevertheless be interpreted with caution, particularly regarding fires that occurred in winter, notes Éric Rigolot, research engineer at the Mediterranean Forest Ecology Unit of INRAE. “These figures also include pastoral fires, which are not real wildfires, but on the contrary are often beneficial,” he explains.

Increasingly large burned areas

Beyond the number of wildfires, it is the burned areas that have increased significantly over the past quarter century. They reveal increasingly violent fires, with a record in 2022, affecting Gironde as well as Morbihan, Jura, Isère, Loire-Atlantique, and Sarthe.

Beyond the Mediterranean rim, fires are now breaking out in more northerly territories that had until now been relatively spared from high wildfire risk.

What can be expected this summer in France regarding wildfire risk?

According to Éric Rigolot, research engineer at the Mediterranean Forest Ecology Unit of INRAE, the current situation in the south of the country is relatively favorable. “Spring has been generally rainy in the Mediterranean region. With the exception of a few localized deficits in the Pyrénées-Orientales and in Aude, we do not expect an early fire season,” he estimates.

However, this spring moisture has encouraged significant vegetation growth. And this is precisely the paradox: if heatwaves occur in the coming weeks, this vegetation could dry out rapidly and become ideal fuel. At the same time, the central-western region is already facing a drought episode, which locally increases vulnerability to fire outbreaks.

Fires that are often avoidable

Even though climatic conditions play a crucial role, the human factor remains the main cause of wildfires in France. A Senate report published in 2023 on wildfire prevention and the expansion of fire risk recalls that nine out of ten fires with an identified cause are linked to human activities: construction sites, agriculture, barbecues, cigarette butts, vehicle fires, etc.

Among these causes, carelessness is by far the most common, accounting for seven fires out of ten. In other words, a large proportion of fires could be avoided with more responsible behavior and better awareness.

Prevention: good practices for summer 2025

As every year, the national wildfire and vegetation fire prevention campaign has been launched for the 2025 summer season. Launched this Wednesday, it emphasizes the importance of adopting the right behaviors to limit fire outbreaks.

To stay informed daily about risk levels, researcher Éric Rigolot recommends consulting prefecture websites. “These platforms publish local information every day from 6 p.m. onwards on access conditions to forested areas. It is a valuable tool for the general public to understand the level of danger and any restrictions,” notes the INRAE research engineer.

Another available tool is the ‘forest weather’ service, launched by Météo-France in June 2023. Renewed this summer, it aims to inform and raise public awareness of wildfire risks at the departmental level, using a simple and accessible format for everyone.