Heatwave Increases Risk of Forest Fires Around Saint-Tropez
Warnings across the Var region as the heatwave continues
During the summer months of June to September the prefecture of the Var issues a daily bulletin showing the fire risk in the various areas of the region.
This information is based on the weather forecasts by Meteo France and past knowledge of the area and the fire risk. The risk level is graded at Yellow, Orange, Red and Black, each of which give access rules for the forested areas of the region. Recent bulletins have shown Orange and Red alerts due to the consistently high temperatures, along with increased wind. A brisk mistral wind coupled with elevated temperatures over the past 10 days has left forestland tinder dry and at extreme risk of fire.
Yellow (moderate level of fire risk): Caution is required.
Orange (high level of fire risk): It is recommended to refrain from going into the forested areas.
Red (very high level of fire risk): It is strongly recommended to refrain from going into the forested areas. It is prohibited to drive on any of the roads listed in the annex to the prefectorial ordinance that are marked with the appropriate sign.
Black (extremely high level of fire risk): It is prohibited to drive on any of the ways listed in the annex to the prefectorial order that are marked with the following sign: Access by foot (walkers, hikers…) is prohibited in all the woods, forests, scrublands, afforestations or plantations in the following nine massifs (covering the whole Var): Centre-Var, Estérel, Haut-Var, Iles d’Hyères, Maures Nord, Maures Sud, Préalpes, Sainte Baume Nord, Sainte Baume Sud. The risks in the massif de l’Estérel also apply to the western massifs of the Alpes-Maritimes.
You can check the daily bulletin, in English, here on their website.
