France raises wildfire alert to maximum in 3 regions amid heat wave

French authorities maintained maximum wildfire alerts for the Bouches-du-Rhone, Var and Vaucluse departments on Friday as scorching temperatures continued to fuel extreme fire risks across the country's southeastern coastline. Temperatures reached 40.6C in Le Luc and peaked at 41.8C in Cogolin on Thursday, according to broadcaster BFMTV.

Forecasters warn of persistent heat

Meteo-France kept the three departments on red alert for "very high" forest fire risk after issuing the same warning on Thursday alongside Aude. Var and Vaucluse remain under orange heat wave alerts, while Bouches-du-Rhone is under a yellow warning. Forecasters expect conditions to remain largely unchanged on Friday, with daytime highs ranging between 34C and 36C across inland areas and along parts of the Mediterranean coast.

"The fairly widespread heat wave across the region continues. Maximum temperature drops will be recorded in some places, but never widespread or lasting enough to justify a change in the level of vigilance," Meteo-France said. Saturday forecasts predict temperatures rising to 38C in the Rhone Valley and along the Durance River, further complicating containment efforts.

Emergency closures and firefighting operations

Authorities in the Var department closed seven mountain massifs to the public, banning access and hiking because of the wildfire threat. Meanwhile, firefighters brought a vegetation fire under control in the Aude department after it burned around 100 hectares on Thursday. The Aude prefecture said late Thursday that 120 firefighters remained at the scene overnight to extinguish remaining hotspots and monitor the area.