France is exposed to wildfire risk across a large part of its territory, and no longer only in summer. The Landes de Gascogne forest massif (Gironde, Landes), the hills and scrubland of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the Mediterranean rim (Var, Aude, Gard, Ardèche) and Corsica account for most of the area burned each year. Overseas territories also experience vegetation fires, tracked by the same satellites.
This page presents the nationwide tracking we provide, and explains where the displayed information comes from, as well as what it cannot tell you. Our service was born in Gironde, on the Arcachon Bay: that is where tracking remains the most detailed (automatically computed threatened towns, local mutual-aid network). At the national scale, the data shown is the same satellite detection, but without that extra layer of local detail, see below.
What the map shows
- Satellite-detected hotspots across all of France: each point corresponds to an area of roughly 375 metres where sensors measured a thermal anomaly.
- Real and forecast wind, from Météo-France's AROME model, which determines the direction a fire is spreading.
- Estimated smoke arrival over downwind towns (detailed per-town calculation is available for Gironde).
- Official air quality, published by France's national network of approved air quality monitoring associations (AASQA, federated under Atmo France).
- Aerial firefighting assets in flight (Canadair, Dash, water-bombing helicopters) when their position is public.
- Already-burnt areas, from the European Copernicus EFFIS perimeters.
In an emergency, call
18 · 112
This map is an information tool. It never replaces instructions from firefighters, your local prefecture, or an FR-Alert received on your phone. If you are told to evacuate, evacuate immediately, without waiting for confirmation here.
How fires are detected
Hotspots come from the NASA FIRMS program, which publicly distributes thermal anomalies measured by polar-orbiting satellites, VIIRS instruments (Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 satellites) and MODIS, across the whole of French territory, mainland and overseas included. A satellite passes over a given area several times a day; between two passes, no new detection is possible.
The single most important limitation
A satellite detection takes in practice up to three hours to reach us. A fire spreading at 2 km/h can therefore be up to six kilometres away from where the point appears on the map. That is why this tool is designed for residents, to understand a situation, prepare, know where the smoke is coming from, and not as an operational firefighting tool. Firefighters have far more precise and immediate localisation resources.
We also show what we don't know. When no satellite has passed over a known hotspot for several hours, the map states this explicitly rather than implying the fire is out.
Where and why France burns
Two broad terrain types concentrate the risk, for different reasons:
- The Landes de Gascogne forest (Gironde, Landes). Maritime pine planted as a monoculture produces a very dry needle litter and highly combustible resin; the fern and purple moor-grass undergrowth ignites in seconds. Atlantic westerly winds can push a fire front several kilometres in a single day.
- The Mediterranean rim and Corsica (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Var, Aude, Gard, Ardèche). Garrigue and maquis scrubland, very dry in summer, ignite easily; the Mistral and Tramontane winds can carry a fire very fast over rugged terrain that hampers firefighter access.
In both cases, prolonged summer drought lowers vegetation moisture content, which is reflected in daily weather-risk indices. A network of DFCI firebreak tracks (Défense de la Forêt Contre l'Incendie) grids the most exposed forests to allow firefighter access; these tracks are not hiking trails and must remain clear at all times.
More detailed tracking in Gironde and the Arcachon Bay
In the interest of honesty: this service was born on the Arcachon Bay (Gujan-Mestras, Gironde), and that is where tracking is most complete, automatically computed threatened towns, a local mutual-aid network, dedicated pages per area. The rest of French territory benefits from the same satellite detection and the same wind and air-quality layers, but without this extra local granularity. If you live in Gironde, the dedicated département page (in French) goes further.
Recent major wildfires in France
| Area | Period | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| La Teste-de-Buch (Gironde, Dune du Pilat) | July 2022 | about 7,000 hectares |
| Landiras (southern Gironde, reignited in August) | July-August 2022 | about 13,800 + 7,400 hectares |
| Générac (Gard) | July 2022 | about 235 hectares |
| Corbières massif (Aude) | August 2025 | about 900 hectares (+ 600 ha of vineyards affected) |
| Mont du Gros Bessillon, Pontevès (Var) | July 2026 | about 2,550 hectares |
| Corte (Haute-Corse) | July 2026 | about 860 to 900 hectares |
These areas are orders of magnitude communicated by local prefectures and reported by the press; final assessments may differ slightly. As a national reference point, 2022 had marked a record with about 66,300 hectares burned across France. Summer 2026 already stands out as one of the most intense seasons on record, with several major fires declared as early as July, from the Var to Haute-Corse.
What to do if a fire starts near you
- Don't go and look. A vegetation fire moves faster than a person on foot, and smoke can disorient you within seconds.
- Don't take to the road unless necessary. Roads must stay clear for emergency services, and a traffic jam under smoke is a trap.
- Close shutters and vents, and water down surroundings if water use isn't restricted.
- Prepare a bag: ID documents, medication, charger, water, a torch, and whatever you need to transport your pets.
- Listen to local radio (France Bleu) and check your local prefecture's official accounts. An FR-Alert can arrive directly on your phone.
- If an evacuation order is given, leave immediately, without waiting to see the flames.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if there's a fire near me in France?
Open the live map: hotspots detected in the last few hours appear there, with wind direction (and, in Gironde, the calculated distance to neighbouring towns). Keep in mind the satellite detection delay described above.
Is the data official?
The sources are, NASA FIRMS, Météo-France, the AASQA/Atmo France network, Copernicus EFFIS, but their assembly on this map is not. This service is published by a private company and does not speak on behalf of firefighters or local prefectures.
Is the service paid?
No. The map is free and requires no sign-up. It is funded by its publisher, a few local partners and advertising.
Why does a red dot appear when there's no fire?
Sensors detect heat, not fire. An authorised agricultural burn, an industrial flare, or an overheated metal roof can trigger a detection. The map factors in measured intensity and age to avoid alarming without cause, but no satellite detection is infallible.
Can I install the map as an app?
Yes. From the home page, your browser will offer to add it to your home screen. It then works like an app, and keeps the last known data even when the network is saturated, which happens frequently near a wildfire.