A forest fire, fanned by a violent wind, spread across at least 600 hectares in the Var massif of Maures, causing the evacuation of several hamlets but without causing any casualties, said firefighters who are mobilizing significant resources against the flames.
The fire broke out around 3 p.m. in the town of Vidauban, at the level of departmental road 48. It progressed very quickly, “fanned” by the wind and around 7:30 p.m. the fire continued “to progress towards the east of the massive,” said the firefighters. More than 200 of them are on the job, supported by 50 machines, three water bomber planes and a heavy helicopter.
Four hamlets evacuated, another confined
Four hamlets in the small town of Plan-de-la-Tour, located on the heights of Saint-Tropez, were preventively evacuated, as well as two areas in Vidauban, or a few dozen people, according to the fire brigade. The families of another hamlet, in La Garde-Freinet, were confined. Departmental roads 48 and 72 were cut between Vidauban and Plan-de-la-Tour.
In August 2021, a fire devastated 7,000 hectares in the hinterland of Saint-Tropez, killing two people and leading to the evacuation of 10,000 people.