After burning 630 hectares, a fire in Aude is stabilized but not yet fixed

By The New Obs with AFP

Published on July 27, 2025 at 10:26 a.m.

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The violent fire that broke out on Saturday on the Mediterranean coast in Aude was contained and stabilised this Sunday morning, July 27, after sweeping through 630 hectares of vegetation and severely damaging two houses.

In this area hit by drought, intense heat and sustained winds, the risk of fire remains very high this Sunday, the sub-prefect of Aude, Rémi Recio, told AFP.

More than 630 firefighters and 180 ground vehicles remain mobilized to control the fire, which is becoming established, he said. Firefighters fought all night at the points where the fire started to "channel" it, managing to "stabilize and contain it in an area without homes," he added.

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They hope to be able to contain the fire during the day with the support of two Canadair aircraft and two water bomber helicopters, a reduced air force compared to Saturday because other departments are on heightened alert. But gusts of wind blowing at 80 km/h are expected at the end of the morning, he added, calling for "civic-mindedness and responsibility."

Two houses damaged, no serious injuries

The fire broke out early Saturday afternoon in Sigean before quickly spreading through an area of scrubland and dry vegetation, fanned by violent winds blowing up to 70 km/h. It swept through 630 hectares of vegetation towards Port-la-Nouvelle and La Palme, two coastal towns popular with holidaymakers on the route to Spain.

In the commune of Sigean, two houses were severely damaged by the flames, one of which was almost completely destroyed, according to the same source. No serious injuries were reported, and while four firefighters suffered smoke inhalation, they were able to return home on Sunday.

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As a precautionary measure, around ten homes were evacuated on Saturday in Sigean, along with two campsites and a housing estate in Port-la-Nouvelle, where the fire spread in the evening. However, all residents and holidaymakers—around a thousand of them—were able to leave the gymnasiums where they had been temporarily accommodated and return to their homes and campsites in the evening.

Due to the presence of a high-voltage line under the drop zones, electricity was cut off on Saturday evening for 5,000 homes in Port-la-Nouvelle, but power was restored on Sunday.

The fire is believed to have started on the edge of the A9 motorway, which connects the Rhône Valley to Spain, according to the sub-prefect of Aude. This major holiday destination has remained open to traffic, but the fire caused up to 15 km of traffic jams, blocking drivers and holidaymakers for hours on Saturday evening. However, the D6009 road remains closed to traffic this Sunday along the Sigean African Wildlife Reserve, which was not affected.

The sub-prefect of Aude reiterated his call for "caution and restraint" to AFP on Sunday, deploring the fact that the police had to fine a man on Saturday evening in La Palme, who had "thrown a cigarette butt out of the window" of his vehicle in front of them .

This latest disaster comes less than a month after the Aude department was hit by a major fire , started by a burning car on the motorway, which covered 2,100 hectares near Narbonne. It mobilized 1,000 firefighters, who battled the flames throughout the night of July 7 to 8.

Another, who had traveled 400 hectares in the Corbières region on June 29 and 30, was provoked by a street vendor whose trailer was transporting a poorly extinguished barbecue on the highway. He was charged and placed in pre-trial detention.