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last mo.

Gros Bessillon Fire Contained as Prosecutors Probe Possible Deliberate Restarts

More than a thousand firefighters remain on the scene while authorities open criminal inquiries and the government launches a reconstruction mission to speed relief and reduce future risk.

Image
Mardi, plus de 1.000 pompiers étaient toujours mobilisés sur le front de cet incendie, pour l’heure contenu après avoir parcouru 1.850 hectares.
[Michel Gile / Biosphoto / Biosphoto via AFP]
Des arbres brûlés par un incendie à Correns (Var), le 3 août 2026.

Overview

  • By August 5 authorities said the Gros Bessillon blaze was contained but not fixed after burning about 6,350 hectares and firefighters continued to treat hotspots with helicopters and drones.
  • The public prosecutor in Draguignan said the hypothesis of deliberate ignitions is 'seriously envisaged' for the violent restart that added roughly 1,850 hectares to the fire, and multiple enquiries into separate starts remain open.
  • Over 1,000 firefighters are still deployed on the Var front to secure lisières and extinguish residual flames while weather forecasts warn of strong mistral winds that could trigger reactivations.
  • The state has begun emergency measures for victims, including full reimbursement of partial‑activity indemnities for small firms in evacuated zones and official recognition of major Gironde/Landes fires to simplify recovery work.
  • Matignon has created a Mission Reconstruction et Adaptation des Territoires to coordinate rebuilding, adapt forest and land management, and channel funds and technical support to communities and businesses affected by this summer's megafires.