The very high temperatures, combined with the absence of rain, lead to very high risks of fires in Languedoc. State services have placed several areas in the departments of Gard, Hérault and Aude on red alert.
Work in forests, woods and scrubland is prohibited in eastern Hérault, which includes the Gardiole massif, the wine-growing plains and the coastal plains. Access to natural areas is strongly discouraged.
Access to four completely closed massifs in the Aude
Same thing in the Gard where almost the entire department is also placed on red alert, with the exception of the Cévennes and Aigoual. Any use of fire, bivouac or wild camping are strictly prohibited.
Numerous fire starts took place on Wednesday in these two departments. More than 6.6 hectares burned in the Gard on Wednesday alone in six separate locations. In the Hérault, the operational statistics of the firefighters show 135 interventions for fires and explosions between June 27 and July 3 (without however specifying the nature of the fires).
Eastern Aude is also on forest fire red alert. Four massifs are even completely closed: Fontfroide, Île Sainte-Lucie, Pinède-Crémades and La Clape, victim of violent fires in 2021.