The prefecture has banned access, traffic and work in all the forests of the Var on Saturday 18 July 2026. According to information published by the Var Prefecture, the fire risk has reached an extreme or very severe level throughout the department.
This closure affects walkers, motorists and professionals. No one will be permitted to enter the affected forest areas or carry out any work there on Saturday.
Var: extreme fire risk in three mountain ranges
The Maures, Centre-Var and Estérel mountain ranges have reached the ‘extreme’ risk level. This level requires the utmost vigilance, as well as a total ban on access and work.
The Toulon Mountains, Sainte-Baume, the Haut-Var, the Corniche des Maures, the Canjuers plateau and the Hyères Islands are classified as ‘very severe’ risk areas. Despite this difference in risk level, the prefecture is enforcing a closure across all the mountain ranges in the Var.
Var: demonstrations banned near woodland areas
The Prefect of the Var has also banned all gatherings in and around forest areas. This measure comes into force on Saturday 18 July at 8.00 am and ends on Sunday 19 July at midnight. High temperatures, winds that could reach 50 km/h and extreme soil drought are the reasons behind this decision.
The ban applies to sporting, cultural, festive, community, commemorative, recreational and leisure events. It also covers temporary commercial activities such as tree-top adventure courses, clay pigeon shooting, guided tours, mobile catering and street trading.
The prefecture has also banned fireworks displays, the setting off of fireworks and the release of sky lanterns throughout the department. It is asking organisers to postpone any festivities that could cause a fire to break out.
Two service areas on the A57 are closed
The authorities will close the Gonfaron and Les Sigues service areas to traffic on Saturday. These two service areas on the A57 motorway are situated near the Maures massif, where the fire risk has reached the ‘extreme’ level. As a reminder, in August 2021, a fire that broke out near the Gonfaron rest area in the Var department led to a devastating blaze. For seven days, nearly 1,200 firefighters were mobilised to battle the flames. The blaze swept through around 7,000 hectares of vegetation and claimed the lives of two people.
The prefecture is asking residents and visitors to comply strictly with the restrictions. It is urging everyone not to light fires or barbecues near forests, not to smoke in the mountains, and never to throw cigarette ends out of a vehicle.
Human activity causes nine out of ten forest fires. Carelessness is also to blame for one in two fires. Tools that produce sparks can start a fire when used near dry vegetation.
Anyone who spots a fire breaking out must immediately call 18 or 112. They must give the location as precisely as possible to help the emergency services respond. Follow the progress of the fires in real time on our interactive map.