A wildfire that scorched the northwestern outskirts of Marseille lost intensity overnight, allowing authorities to lift lockdown orders in parts of France’s second-largest city. However, firefighters continued efforts on Wednesday to fully contain the blaze, as officials warned of ongoing risks due to weather conditions.
The fire, which ignited when a car caught fire, has already consumed 700 hectares (2.7 square miles) of land. Fueled by strong winds of up to 70 kph (43 mph), the blaze advanced rapidly through residential zones, damaging 60 homes and completely destroying 10, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
A helicopter carrying water, flies over smoke rising from the wildfire in Marseille, France, July 8, 2025 in this screen grab obtained from social media. MALIK H. / @thisisoim_ via X/ @qn13officiel via TikTok/via REUTERS
Lockdown Lifted, But Caution Urged
Mayor Benoit Payan announced early Wednesday that the 16th arrondissement of Marseille was no longer under lockdown. Residents who had been ordered to stay indoors for safety were once again free to move about.
“With the fire in northern Marseille now clearly under control, we can announce this morning that the 16th arrondissement is no longer on lockdown,” Payan said on social media platform X.
Still, he urged locals to remain vigilant:
“I call on all Marseille residents to exercise the utmost caution in the area, as emergency services are hard at work.”
Ongoing Firefighting Efforts and Flight Disruptions
Hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, are battling the flames, which continue to smolder. Martine Vassal, head of the area council, confirmed that while progress has been made, the situation remains precarious.
“It is not finished. Weather conditions are worrying for us,” she said in an interview with BFM.
Officials also stated that Marseille airport may suspend commercial flights if firefighting aircraft need exclusive access to airspace, depending on how the situation develops.
A view from L’Estaque shows a large plume of smoke rising over Marseille as a fast-moving wildfire spread at Les Pennes-Mirabeau, southern France, July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandre Dimou
Residents Displaced, Return Delayed
Many residents who fled their homes earlier in the week have not yet been cleared to return. One evacuee, Philippe, told BFM he spent a sleepless night after leaving his home and hoped to return by Wednesday afternoon.“There is nothing we can do,” he said. “It is very, very, very hard.”
Wildfire Season Comes Early
This blaze and another near Narbonne mark France’s first major wildfires of the summer, according to government spokesperson Sophie Primas, who said the season has arrived earlier than usual this year. Firefighters have also been battling blazes in Spain, Greece, and Crete, highlighting a growing pattern of intense early-summer fires across the Mediterranean.
Scientists continue to point to climate change as a key driver of longer and more destructive wildfire seasons in southern Europe.
As of Wednesday, no fatalities had been reported in the Marseille fire — a small relief amid the widespread destruction. Authorities remain on high alert, bracing for the possibility of renewed flare-ups amid scorching heat and dry winds.
