Wildfire in southern France forces 10,000 evacuations and impacts Tour de France stage

A large wildfire in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of southern France has prompted the evacuation of roughly 10,000 people and forced organizers of the Tour de France to restrict public access to a portion of the race. The fire is located in the Pyrenees, an area bordering Spain.

Reports from the New York Times indicate that the blaze has scorched more than 11,000 acres as of July 6. The scale of the fire and the resulting smoke conditions necessitated immediate safety measures for those attending the cycling event.

According to reports from The Independent, the Trevillach fire broke out near the route of the third stage of the Tour de France. Because of its proximity to the flames, organizers banned fans from attending the finale of that segment. These restrictions were implemented as parts of Europe continue to experience periods of extreme heat.

Local authorities managed the evacuations in several communes, including those near the village of Trevillach and the commune of Illesur-Têt. The BBC reported that the fire's location necessitated significant logistical changes for the sporting event while local residents were moved to safety from the advancing flames.