More than 600 hectares covered, homes affected, still increasing... We take stock of the fire in Aude
AFP Published on 07/27/2025 at 08:15, updated on 07/27/2025 at 08:15
More than 630 firefighters are working to control the blaze, which is still not under control , Aude sub-prefect Rémi Recio told AFP.
Firefighters hope to achieve this on Sunday with support from two Canadairs and two water-bombing helicopters starting at 9:30 a.m., but wind gusts of up to 80 km/h are expected late morning, he added.
On Saturday, two houses were badly damaged by flames in Sigean, one of which was almost completely destroyed, according to the same source.
But all the residents and holidaymakers - around a thousand - who had been evacuated as a precaution from Port-la-Nouvelle were able to return to their homes and campsites on Saturday evening.
Météo-France had placed the Aude department on orange alert for a "high risk" of fire on Saturday.
The fire broke out early in the afternoon in Sigean before spreading across 610 hectares of vegetation towards Port-la-Nouvelle. It is believed to have started along the edge of the A9 motorway, which connects the Rhône Valley to Spain, according to the sub-prefect.
