Var Region Faces 'Very High Risk' of Fires Saturday Amid Strong Winds

The Var region in southern France is on high alert for significant fire risks on Saturday, with authorities warning of a "very high risk" between 4 PM and 10 PM. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that persistent "hot spots" from recent fires, combined with the anticipated arrival of strong winds, particularly the Mistral, will create dangerous conditions.

Nuñez addressed the situation after a briefing on the ongoing fires, noting that approximately 1,250 hectares have already been affected by the new blaze in the Var. He confirmed that around 1,500 firefighters, supported by intensive aerial operations on Friday, have managed to contain fires around several communes, including Montfort-sur-Argens and Correns.

Aerial support is set to increase on Saturday, with four Canadairs, five water-bombing helicopters, and two Dash aircraft scheduled to operate in the area. Nationally, 65 reinforcement units, each comprising about 60 personnel and vehicles, are deployed across France. International assistance, including a Slovak and a Czech water bomber, along with Romanian personnel, is also being provided through the EU's civil protection mechanism.

This year's fire season has been particularly severe, with 119,000 hectares burned across France since January, already surpassing records from the past 20 years. The vegetation and soil have been extremely dry for months, exacerbated by exceptional heatwaves, with climate change identified as a significant factor intensifying the drought.