A large wildfire erupted in southern France on Wednesday, scorching an estimated 800 hectares and forcing the evacuation of around 200 people from villages in the Aude department. The fire started in the Hérault commune of Beaufort and spread rapidly into neighbouring Aude, driven by strong winds and drought-parched vegetation, according to local authorities.

Hundreds of firefighters were deployed, with 280 personnel in Aude and 200 in Hérault, supported by water-dumping aircraft including Canadair and Dash planes. The prefecture of Aude said the situation was “stable” and the fire was no longer spreading, but a source told Agence France-Presse that while the fire was contained at times, it was not under control, and both flanks remained very active. Difficult hilly terrain with no access routes complicated ground operations.

About 200 residents were evacuated or told to stay indoors in Pouzols-Minervois and Mailhac. A 99-year-old evacuee, Danielle, described the smoke as “so thick, so suffocating that firefighters told us to leave.” Separate fires broke out in the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône departments. In Fréjus, a fire that burned 30 hectares was brought under control after 2,200 people were preventively evacuated from campsites. Near Marseille, blazes in Rognac and Lançon-Provence had consumed 35 and 200 hectares respectively by evening, local fire services reported.

The fires come days after a deadly heatwave across western Europe, with temperatures in France reaching record highs. Météo France had placed six departments, including Aude, under a “very high” fire danger alert. Another spell of extreme heat is forecast for the following week, raising concerns among authorities about further fire risks.

As of late Wednesday, the main fire in Aude remained uncontained, with firefighting efforts continuing overnight. No casualties have been reported from the blaze, but the prefecture urged residents to follow emergency instructions.