France Activates Extreme Heat Emergency Plan Amidst Heatwave

France is activating its Extreme Heat ORSEC emergency plan for the first time on Friday, July 10, 2026, across all areas under a red alert for a severe heatwave gripping Europe. The government's move aims to safeguard the most vulnerable citizens from the impacts of extreme weather.

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced the activation, stating, "Today we will activate the Extreme Heat ORSEC plan across all territories in the red heatwave alert. We will also open cooling centers to protect the most vulnerable groups." Introduced on July 2, the plan serves as an integrated response mechanism involving all government authorities during extreme heat events. Through this civil protection framework, the government will deploy extra resources and identify individuals living alone or in vulnerable conditions for assistance.

Meteo-France, the national meteorological agency, reported that nine western regions would enter red alert status by Friday afternoon. An additional 72 departments remain on orange alert. The heatwave, which started on July 4, is forecast to persist until at least July 14, with a projected temperature increase beginning Sunday, July 12.

The prolonged hot weather has also fueled wildfires, with approximately 9,921 hectares of land burned in the first week of July – nearly triple the amount compared to the same period last year. The heightened fire risk has led authorities to cancel several Bastille Day fireworks displays, including in the Herault and Vendee regions.