Live satellite hotspots · source: NASA FIRMS
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Mainland France sees wildfires every summer, concentrated overwhelmingly in the south: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Occitanie and Corsica. Dry pine forest, scrubby garrigue and the strong, drying mistral and tramontane winds combine to push fires along fast once they take hold, and campsites and holiday parks in the Var and the Landes have had to evacuate in recent summers. The Atlantic coast around the Gironde has also proved vulnerable, with large forest fires in the Landes de Gascogne in recent years surprising many visitors who assumed the risk was confined to the Riviera.
This map combines satellite hotspot detections with official reporting from the French fire and forest agencies, so you can check both the raw heat signal and confirmed incidents in one place. Search for a town, department or postcode to centre the map on your holiday destination, and switch on location alerts to be notified if a new hotspot appears within a distance you choose.
Hotspots come from the VIIRS instruments on NASA FIRMS satellites (NOAA-20, NOAA-21 and Suomi NPP) and are cross-checked against Copernicus EFFIS. A hotspot is a heat detection, not a confirmed fire: industrial sites, solar farms and permanent burners are filtered out automatically.
Provence, the Var and the Côte d'Azur
The hills behind Saint-Tropez, Fréjus and the Massif des Maures are among the most fire-prone landscapes in France, combining resinous pine forest with holiday crowds and narrow access roads. Fires here can force rapid campsite evacuations during heatwaves, particularly when the mistral is blowing.
Corsica and the Mediterranean coast
Corsica's maquis scrubland and mountainous interior burn readily in summer drought, while mainland Mediterranean departments such as the Gard, Hérault and Aude see frequent smaller fires along the coast and inland garrigue.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the Landes
The vast pine plantations of the Landes de Gascogne, stretching from the Gironde down towards the Spanish border, produced some of Europe's largest recent forest fires. Flat, densely forested terrain lets fires spread quickly once established, even without mountainous relief.
Is there a wildfire in France right now?
This map shows every hotspot NASA FIRMS satellites have detected over France in roughly the last 18 hours, cross-checked against official French fire service reporting. If your destination shows no markers, no significant fire has been detected there recently. Press Live refresh for the newest satellite pass.
When is wildfire season worst in France?
The core risk period runs from June to September, peaking in July and August across Provence, the Var, Corsica and the Landes. Extended droughts can push the season earlier into spring or later into October, particularly in the far south.
What should I do if a fire is near my campsite in France?
Follow the instructions of campsite staff and gendarmes without delay; French authorities evacuate quickly once a fire threatens a populated area. Call 18 for the fire brigade or 112 for any European emergency number, and avoid driving towards smoke even if it looks like the fastest route out.
Are barbecues and campfires allowed in France in summer?
Most southern departments ban all open fires, barbecues and sometimes smoking outdoors from June to September under a préfecture decree, including on beaches and in forests. Rules are enforced with fines, so always check local signage or the préfecture's website for your department.
What is the emergency number for fires in France?
Dial 18 to reach the French fire brigade (sapeurs-pompiers) directly, or 112 for the general European emergency number, which works from any phone including foreign SIM cards. Both are free to call and operators typically speak some English in tourist areas.
How current is this map of French wildfires?
Satellite data refreshes automatically every hour, with NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 passing over France roughly twice a day, supplemented by official reports from feuxdeforet.fr. The last update time is shown in the corner of the map, and Live refresh fetches the newest pass on demand.
How do I see if a wildfire is close to my campsite or holiday address in France?
Use the location finder on this map: type your destination, village or campsite name, or tap "Use my location". The map instantly shows the distance in kilometres to the nearest active hotspot, and you can switch on alerts for fires within 5 to 100 km. Every search gets its own link, so you can share the situation around your own address with family or fellow travellers.