Live satellite hotspots · source: NASA FIRMS
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Southern France, covering Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Occitanie, is the part of the country most exposed to summer wildfires. Dry garrigue, resinous pine forest and steep terrain around the Massif des Maures and the Esterel combine with the mistral and tramontane winds to spread fires quickly once they start, often near densely visited coastal towns and campsites. Millions of tourists holiday here every summer, which means fires here carry an outsized practical risk for travellers compared with their size.
This regional map filters the national picture down to the south, so you see only the hotspots relevant to a Provence or Côte d'Azur holiday without the noise of fires elsewhere in France. It draws on the same NASA FIRMS satellite detections and official French fire service reporting as the national map, refreshed hourly, with a search bar to centre quickly on your resort or campsite.
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.
The Var and the Massif des Maures
The wooded hills behind Saint-Tropez, Hyères and Fréjus are consistently among the most fire-affected areas in France. Narrow access roads and a high concentration of campsites mean local authorities evacuate quickly whenever a fire breaks out nearby.
The Esterel and Alpes-Maritimes
The red volcanic hills of the Massif de l'Esterel between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël burn readily in dry summers, and the hinterland behind Nice and Grasse sees regular smaller fires driven by strong coastal winds.
Occitanie and Corsica
Inland Occitanie, including the Gard, Hérault and Aude, combines vineyards with garrigue scrub prone to fast-moving fires, while Corsica's rugged, densely vegetated interior can be affected throughout the summer, particularly during prolonged drought.
Is there a wildfire in Provence or the Côte d'Azur right now?
This map shows satellite hotspots detected across Southern France in roughly the last 18 hours, filtered to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Occitanie regions. No markers near your destination means no significant fire has been picked up recently there. Use Live refresh for the newest satellite pass.
When is fire season worst on the Côte d'Azur?
July and August are the highest-risk months, especially during heatwaves combined with the mistral or a strong easterly wind. Some years see elevated risk from as early as May if spring has been unusually dry.
What should I do if a fire threatens my campsite near Saint-Tropez or Fréjus?
Leave when campsite staff or the gendarmerie tell you to, without waiting to pack everything; evacuations in this region happen quickly once a fire is confirmed. Call 18 or 112, and never try to drive through smoke to reach the coast faster.
Are barbecues allowed on campsites in Southern France?
Most departments in this region ban all open fires and barbecues outright from June to September, including on beaches, campsite pitches and forest tracks. Fines apply, so check with your campsite reception or the local préfecture's summer fire rules.
What is the emergency number in the south of France?
Call 18 for the French fire brigade or 112 for the general European emergency number, both free and available from any phone. In tourist hotspots along the Côte d'Azur, operators are often able to assist in English as well as French.
How current is this Southern France fire map?
Data refreshes automatically every hour from NASA FIRMS satellite passes and official French fire service reports. The exact refresh time appears at the top of the map, and pressing Live refresh retrieves the very latest satellite detections immediately.
How do I see if a wildfire is close to my campsite or holiday address in Southern 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.