Camping safely during wildfires in southern France
Camping in Provence, on the Côte d'Azur or in Occitanie is wonderful, but in the summer months the wildfire risk is high. This guide helps you choose a safe pitch, read the daily risk map, understand the barbecue rules and be ready for an evacuation.
1. Choose a safe pitch
Scan your surroundings deliberately when you arrive. A safe pitch meets these criteria:
- Close to a main exit. You do not want to drive across the whole site or through a wooded section during an evacuation.
- At least two escape routes. Note which roads lead to the motorway or main road. One route can be blocked by smoke or fire crews.
- Avoid pitches surrounded by forest. Tents, caravans and campervans between dense trees and scrub are at greater risk than pitches in open ground or near the entrance.
- Ask about the assembly point. Where do you go if the site is evacuated? Reception should be able to answer straight away.
2. Check the Vigilance risk map daily
In France every department's préfecture publishes a carte de vigilance feux de forêt for the next day at around 18:00. The map uses four colours:
| Level | What it means | Impact on campers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Elevated risk | Take extra care with fire. |
| Orange | Very high risk | Avoid massifs; check local bans. |
| Red | Extreme risk | Forests and trails closed; barbecue ban common. |
| Black | Exceptional risk | Stay near your accommodation; follow instructions. |
You will find the map on your department's préfecture site (for example var.gouv.fr) or via meteo-forets.fr. Our southern France map shows active fires in near real time, so you can see immediately what is happening in your region.
3. Barbecues, campfires and open flame
In summer, southern France applies strict rules to open fire. An innocent barbecue can result in a fine at high risk — and even start a fire.
- Check the campsite rules. Some sites ban gas, charcoal or even electric barbecues during drought.
- Use designated areas. Barbecue only on firm, non-flammable ground, well away from canvas, caravans and scrub.
- Campfires are usually banned. Even a small fire in nature can lead to a substantial fine at high risk.
- Never drop cigarette ends outdoors. This applies all year, but in dry, windy conditions the risk is extreme.
4. Evacuation: what you can arrange now
An evacuation happens fast. This preparation keeps you out of panic mode:
- Keep a go-bag ready. Passport, driving licence, phone, charger, medication, cash and a bottle of water.
- Park your car facing out. Nose towards the exit, tank filled, keys in a fixed place.
- Know the escape direction. Fire climbs a slope faster than it descends. Leave into the wind and head for low, open ground.
- Follow instructions. The gendarmerie, fire brigade or campsite management sets the route. Never drive through a smoke plume.
- Close windows and shutters. If you stay indoors, seal everything to keep embers out.
5. Alerts and emergency numbers
Set up the right alerts before you leave and save the key numbers:
- FR-Alert — the French government sends local warnings straight to your phone, no app required as long as you are on the network.
- 112 — the European emergency number. Works in every EU country, even without credit or a local SIM.
- 18 — direct number for the French fire brigade (sapeurs-pompiers).
- France Bleu — local radio often follows major fires minute by minute.
See the current situation
Our live maps combine NASA FIRMS satellite data with EFFIS verification and filter out industrial heat sources. Ideal for checking where fires are active before and during your holiday.
Key areas in southern France
Some regions close more often than others. Keep an eye on these massifs:
- Massif des Maures and Estérel (Var) — pine forest and garrigue dry out fast; at red or black risk all footpaths close.
- Calanques (Bouches-du-Rhône) — daily access rules per zone, sometimes fully closed at high risk.
- Cévennes (Gard / Lozère) — steep valleys with difficult access; evacuation can be slow.
- Corbières and Pyrénées-Orientales — wind can spread fires here very quickly.