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A large wildfire in the Pyrenees-Orientales department of southern France has intensified since Saturday evening, scorching more than 1,500 hectares of forest and scrubland, and threatening the third stage of the Tour de France scheduled for Monday. The prefect of the department is expected to decide by the end of Sunday whether the stage, which was to run from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles in the French Pyrenees, can be held safely.
The fire, which broke out on Saturday in a mountainous area near the Spanish border, has been driven by strong winds and dry conditions that have placed seven southern French departments under an orange alert for extreme fire risk, according to Météo-France. Firefighting resources, including water-bombing aircraft and hundreds of ground crews, have been deployed to contain the blaze, but the flames have continued to advance through difficult terrain.
The potential disruption to the Tour de France adds a high-profile dimension to an already serious environmental situation. The third stage, a 180-kilometer route from the Catalan city of Granollers to the ski resort of Les Angles, passes through areas that are now directly threatened by the fire or by smoke and reduced visibility. Organizers of the Tour, in coordination with local authorities, have been monitoring the situation closely and have prepared alternative routes or a possible postponement if conditions do not improve.
This is not the first time the Tour de France has been affected by wildfires. In recent years, stages in the south of France have been shortened or rerouted due to similar risks, reflecting the growing impact of climate change on the region’s fire seasons. The current blaze is one of several that have erupted across southern Europe during a heatwave that has brought record temperatures and tinder-dry vegetation.
Local residents in several villages near the fire have been advised to remain indoors or to prepare for possible evacuation, as the flames have come within a few kilometers of inhabited areas. Roads in the affected zone have been closed to non-emergency traffic, and authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to allow fire crews to operate unimpeded. No injuries have been reported so far, but the fire has destroyed an unknown number of structures, including sheds and outbuildings.
The decision on the Tour de France stage will be announced later Sunday, after a final assessment of the fire’s trajectory and the effectiveness of containment efforts. If the stage is canceled or rerouted, it would mark a significant disruption to the race, which began on Saturday in Barcelona with a flat stage and continued Sunday with a stage from Tarragona to Barcelona. Riders and teams have been kept informed of the situation, and many have expressed concern for the safety of local communities.
Météo-France has warned that the fire risk will remain high into Monday, with strong winds and low humidity expected to persist. The orange alert covers the departments of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, and Vaucluse, all of which are vulnerable to wildfires during the summer months. Authorities have reminded the public that most wildfires are caused by human activity, whether through negligence or arson, and have called for heightened vigilance.
The wildfire in the Pyrenees-Orientales is a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of such events in the Mediterranean region. Scientists have linked the trend to rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, which create conditions that allow fires to spread rapidly and burn with greater intensity. The current blaze, which has already consumed an area equivalent to more than 2,000 football fields, is expected to continue burning for several days unless weather conditions change significantly.