The big fire raging in southern France reached the outskirts of Marseilles, according to a local official, while the authorities called on the residents of the 16th city apartment to stay in their homes and demanded not to go on the streets so as not to prevent other firefighters.

At the same time, due to the fire, the operation of the Marseille International Airport was interrupted, a spokesman for the airport administration said.

No departure or arrival of airplanes have been departed from noon.

Some flights have been diverted to Nice, Nim and other regional airports, the spokesman noted.

It is noted that the forest fire that broke out today near Marseilles is spreading very quickly and moving towards the city due to winds blowing at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour.

According to the Fire Brigade, 168 firefighters have been developed to face the fire that began near the town of Le Pen-Mirabo, north of Marseilles. Helicopters are also involved in the extinguishing effort.

A resident of Le Pen-Mirabo, Monik Bayar, said that many of her neighbors have already left, although no evacuation order has been issued. “We will stay, unless our firefighters say to leave,” he added.

Another resident, Jacqueline Revila, said that the smoke is very dense. “We were ordered to stay in, with a message sent to us on the cellphone. We are waiting for newer instructions, “he said.

The Local District of Provence-Alponi-Kyani Coast reported with a post on the X platform that “at this stage” the residents should stay in their homes. “Close windows, doors (…) and don’t move to the streets,” he said.

In the center of Marseilles there is a strong smell of burnt and the smoke covers some parts of the city.

A spokesman for the municipality said that the city’s region, the 15th and 16th apartment, bordered by Le Pen-Mirabo, is threatened by the fire. Authorities are waiting for newer instructions from the Fire Brigade to start evacuations and residents are very anxious, he said.

‘Stays Active’ Fire of Rare Intensity in France

It is noted that a rare fire “remains active” this morning in southern France, where it has burned more than 20,000 acres of forest area, causing the temporary closure of a highway to Spain, as well as the removal of residents in which the houses arrived.

A Major Forest Fire Near France’s Narbonne Has Burned Over 1,450 Hectares, Forcing Evacuations, Closing A Motorway, and Engulfing Homes, as Seen from the Access Road and Water Bomber Aircraft.#France #Narbonne #Forestfire pic.twitter.com/0vwGZGJLFC

– al arabiya english (@alarabiya_eng) July 8, 2025

Up to 1,070 firefighters are fighting for the fire extinguishing and 5 were “slightly injured”, the Prefectures of the Moda, a geographical district, already affected by three forest fires in a week, said early this morning.

The fire “remains active”, warned state services and airplanes Dash and Canadair resumed water throwing when it dawned.

Traffic on the A9 Motorway, which connects France with Spain along the Mediterranean, would be allowed again from 10:00 local time (11:00 Greek time) after a traffic stop on this road artery yesterday, Monday, the Prefectures of the ODD announced.

“This morning there was an estimate. We gradually re -open the highway. Initially the north-south stream to disintegrate the trucks and then the other stream »told AFP the prefect of Ont Cristian Puze.

Five citizens receive “medical care, including a child”, according to prefectures. The flames caused damage to many homes and destroyed a lab and a stable.

Authorities also retain the restriction measures to the houses implemented in many districts of the southern part of Narbonne, Periak-de-Mer and the Pra-De-Sest settlement of the Baza community, which borders the A9.

In this settlement, the inhabitants were removed from their homes due to fears of fire.

Martin Bou, a retiree, says with tears in the AFP eyes that she saw the flames approaching about twenty meters from her home. Then the mayor arrived, saying “that everything must be closed”, then “began to take the cages of transport with cats (her), picking up the turtles (her), and put the dog in the car” before leaving the Perak-De-Mer community.

Many cars drivers were trapped in huge traffic jams, some had to spend the night in their cars. About 150 people were hosted at Narbonne Exhibition Park, while others in rooms or gyms in neighboring communities.

Although the tramundana, the wind blowing on the Mediterranean coast, is expected to fall slightly today, the risk of fire remains very high due to “meteorological conditions (…) that is very close” to Mondays, the French meteorological service warned.

The fire started around 15:00 local time (16:00 Greek time) under unspecified conditions, from a vineyard in the Corbier Mountains. It then spread quickly, powered by the tramundana to vegetation that has dried up from the drought and the prolonged heat period in recent days.

The first major fires of the time broke out in France at the weekend in many geographical apartments in the southern part of the country, causing large traffic jams in the midst of many departures for summer vacations.