Fire in Aude: fire “still active”, 2,000 hectares affected… Update on the situation
A Canadair firefighting aircraft flies over smoke after a fire near the town of Narbonne (Aude), July 7, 2025. IDRISS BIGOU-GILLES/AFP
A fire of rare intensity swept through more than 2,000 hectares of forest near Narbonne on Monday, July 7, closing the A9 motorway and forcing residents of a hamlet to leave their homes, which were eventually engulfed in flames. Here's a look at the situation.
• How did the fire spread?The fire, which started on Monday around 3 p.m. in unknown circumstances at a vineyard near the D613 departmental road in the Corbières massif, spread quickly, fanned by the tramontane wind with gusts of 90 km/h, according to Météo-France forecaster Adrien Warnan.
Also read
Fire season has begun, the Mediterranean goes on alert
In addition, vegetation dried out by a significant rainfall deficit – reaching 69% in June – and the prolonged heatwave of recent days form a formidable incendiary cocktail, continued Adrien Warnan.
An investigation has been opened by the Narbonne prosecutor's office to determine the cause of the fire. Dash and Canadair aircraft were scheduled to resume their rotations at daybreak.
• Were there any injuries?Up to 1,070 firefighters battled the flames and five of them were "very slightly injured," the Aude prefecture said in a press release published on Tuesday morning, July 8.
Also read
Climate Displacement Series After a Fire: "On July 13, I thought I would soon be a homeowner. By the 14th, I had nothing left."
