Wildfires have been sweeping through various parts of Europe this week, impacting regions in Spain, France, Portugal, and Greece. Thousands of individuals have been evacuated due to the fires, prompting both locals and tourists to ensure that their mobile phones are set up to receive emergency notifications.
In southern France, more than 10,000 people were forced to evacuate small communities and towns in the French Pyrenees, situated near the border with Spain. Spectators planning to attend the third stage of the Tour de France were advised to avoid the area on Monday to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.
In response to the wildfires, the Foreign Office issued an update on Tuesday (July 7) regarding travel guidance for those visiting France, warning British nationals about the heightened risk of fires in the country during the upcoming months. The advice directs individuals to existing recommendations on how to act when staying in or near high-risk fire zones.
The updated guidance emphasizes the elevated wildfire risk in France from April to October, urging visitors to refer to the wildfires section on the Safety and Security page of the official Foreign Office website. The existing advice on wildfires in France has been consistently embedded within the travel guidance, with the latest update serving as a reminder to British citizens of its presence and accessibility.
As of the current status, the advisory on wildfires in France underlines that fire outbreaks can occur throughout the country, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica. To stay informed, the French meteorological service has introduced a fire alert map for travelers.
The advisory further warns that due to drought and high temperatures, instances of wildfires have become more frequent, leading French authorities to evacuate areas and close roads for safety purposes. It emphasizes that starting a wildfire, even unintentionally, is illegal in France and can result in penalties such as fines or imprisonment.
For those residing in or near high-risk areas, the guidance advises consulting the English-language information provided by the French government for guidance on wildfire incidents. In case of being caught in or witnessing a wildfire, individuals are instructed to contact the emergency services by dialing 18 for fire services or 112 for general emergency services.
