Strong winds drive wildfire near Les Pennes–Mirabeau, halting air traffic in Marseille, France

ByTeo Blašković

Strong winds drove a fast-moving wildfire near Les Pennes–Mirabeau, north of Marseille, forcing the shutdown of Marseille–Provence Airport around midday local time on July 8, 2025. The fire burned approximately 30 ha (74 acres), prompted evacuations, and spread smoke across the city’s northern districts.

wildfire marseille france july 8 2025 quissam sdiri

Wildfire near Les Pennes–Mirabeau halts air traffic in Marseille, France on July 8, 2025. Image credit: Quissam Sciri

A fast-moving wildfire broke out near the town of Les Pennes–Mirabeau (population 22 420), located just north of Marseille, France, on July 8. The fire, driven by winds up to 70 km/h (43 mph), rapidly burned through approximately 30 ha (74 acres) of forest and shrubland.

In response, Marseille–Provence Airport suspended all take-offs and landings starting around midday local time. Smoke from the wildfire reduced visibility across the Marseille–Provence airspace, prompting the diversion of several flights to alternate airports including Nice and Nîmes.

Local firefighting authorities deployed 168 personnel supported by 68 engines and two helicopters to combat the fire. According to emergency services, operations were focused on protecting urban zones and critical infrastructure along the A7 motorway corridor.

No casualties have been reported. However, two housing estates were evacuated as a precaution, and officials advised residents of Marseille’s 15th and 16th arrondissements to remain indoors, close shutters, and avoid road travel.

Smoke from the wildfire spread over Marseille’s northern districts, with air quality monitoring stations recording PM2.5 levels exceeding 30 µg/m³, considered moderate to unhealthy by World Health Organization standards. Health authorities recommended that sensitive groups refrain from outdoor activity.

The incident aligns with a broader uptick in wildfire activity across southern Europe, driven by persistent heatwaves and long-term drought stress. In a separate event, a wildfire near Narbonne in southwestern France has burned more than 2 000 ha (4 940 acres) since July 7.

Fire conditions remain elevated across the region, with Météo-France maintaining Red Flag Warnings in Bouches-du-Rhône and adjacent departments. The temperatures are forecast to remain above 34°C (93°F) through the week.

Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.

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