Wildfires have burned nearly 40,000 hectares in France this year, minister says

Paris: Nearly 40,000 hectares of forest and vegetation have been destroyed by wildfires in France since the start of 2026, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday, as hot and dry conditions continued to drive fire risks across parts of the country.

Speaking to France Inter radio, Nunez said the area affected this year was already well above the full-year total recorded in 2025. He also said it had exceeded the level seen by the same stage in 2022, which he described as an exceptional year for wildfires.

Nunez told the broadcaster that 111 people had been arrested in connection with fires across France. He said many of those detained had acknowledged their involvement, and added that human actions — whether deliberate or accidental — were behind the vast majority of fires.

He said:

Just under 40,000 hectares of forest or vegetation have burned in France since the beginning of the year,

Firefighting resources deployed

Hundreds of firefighters were mobilised on Monday to battle ongoing blazes, especially in the southern Var region and on the island of Corsica. Nunez said the wildfire danger would remain fairly high this week in southeastern and southwestern France, though he added that the country had enough means available to respond.

According to the minister, France’s aerial firefighting fleet includes close to 70 aircraft. That force comprises 12 Canadair water bombers, eight Dash aircraft and 12 helicopters used for water drops. It also includes six other firefighting planes and around 30 aircraft run by departmental fire and rescue services.

Nunez said the government had ordered four more Canadair aircraft. Two are due for delivery in 2028, while the remaining two are expected in 2032.

Heat and drought sustaining fire risk

The minister’s comments came as continued high temperatures and prolonged drought fed wildfire conditions in several regions. Meteo-France, the national weather agency, placed 27 departments on Monday under a high forest-fire risk alert.

Nunez said “A large proportion of them have admitted to the acts”.

He also said nine out of 10 fires were caused by human activity, whether intentional or accidental.