Fires in France 2026: air quality, health alerts, and how to protect yourself

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Last updated: July 31, 2026

At a Glance

Main Fire Zones Gironde, Landes (active as of July 31), Fontainebleau (Île-de-France, July 12–15)
Peak PM2.5 Recorded ~393–400 µg/m³ at Recloses station (Fontainebleau), night of July 13–14 — 26 times WHO daily limit
Peak PM2.5 in Bordeaux > 300 µg/m³ on July 26 (Copernicus/CAMS data)
Total Evacuated > 220,000 in Gironde; ~31,000 in Landes; over 144,000 allowed to return by July 31
Hectares Burned ~42,000 ha in Gironde alone; > 115,000 ha nationwide — already above 2022 record
Health Alert Status ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine alert active (issued July 28, 2026); Prev'Air pollution episode ongoing
WHO 24-hr PM2.5 Limit 15 µg/m³

France is experiencing its worst fire season in history. The fires raging in Gironde and Landes since July 22 have burned more area than the entire 2022 national season — and the smoke is the real invisible crisis, pushing air quality in France in 2026 to truly dangerous levels far beyond the perimeter of the flames.

This article compiles the latest verified data: PM2.5 readings, official recommendations, affected regions, and concrete steps to take now.

Which Regions Are Affected? (Updated July 31, 2026)

The 2026 season hit France in two distinct waves. The first affected Île-de-France in mid-July; the second, much larger, ravaged the Southwest starting July 22.

Region Status (July 31) Peak PM2.5 Health Alert
Gironde Stabilized, partial returns > 300 µg/m³ (Bordeaux, July 26) ✅ Active (ARS)
Landes Stabilized High PM10 ✅ Active (ARS)
Fontainebleau (77) Extinguished ~393–400 µg/m³ (July 13–14) Lifted
Occitanie Smoke impact zone Moderate to high ⚠️ Vigilance
Var Local fire + smoke High ⚠️ Vigilance
Dordogne Downwind smoke Moderate ℹ️ Information
Paris / Île-de-France Residual smoke Low to moderate ℹ️ Information

Gironde and Landes — the main fire zone

The Gironde fire started on July 22 near Saumos and spread at an alarming rate through the pine forest of the Landes de Gascogne. By July 26, over 220,000 people had been evacuated from Gironde — a figure confirmed in real-time by Euronews. A separate fire in Landes led to an additional ~31,000 evacuations.

By July 31, Reuters reported that the fire was "under control" and that 144,000 people had been allowed to return home. But the smoke remained. Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine confirmed that the PM10 alert threshold was exceeded on July 27, and air quality remained degraded throughout the department until the end of the month.

The fire burned approximately 42,000 hectares in Gironde alone — already more than the entire Gironde fire of 2022.

Fontainebleau (Île-de-France) — over 2,000 hectares, July 12–15

The first major shock of the 2026 season occurred much closer to Paris than anyone imagined. A fire in the Fontainebleau forest started on July 12 and burned over 1,900 to 2,000 hectares before being brought under control on July 15. France 24 described this fire as of "exceptional scale" for the region.

The impact on air quality was immediate and severe. Airparif's Recloses station (Rural South-East) recorded hourly PM2.5 concentrations of approximately 393 to 400 µg/m³ on the night of July 13–14. This triggered a PM10 information threshold exceedance across the entire south of Île-de-France. The smoke also drifted northeast into the Loiret (Centre-Val de Loire).

Occitanie, Var, Dordogne — smoke impact zones

Occitanie had been subject to fire risk alerts since early July, with four departments placed on very high alert. Var experienced a fast-moving fire on July 22, causing hundreds of evacuations and sending smoke across much of the department.

Dordogne was downwind of the Gironde fire complex. Residents there reported visible haze and throat irritation, even without an active fire in the department. The Prev'Air bulletin of July 27 reported high particle levels across the wider Southwest.

How far does smoke travel?

Wildfire smoke does not respect administrative boundaries. Copernicus CAMS confirmed that the Southwest plume exposed millions of people in France and Spain to harmful pollution. Smoke from the Gironde fires was detected in Toulouse, and during the 2022 fires, RTL reported smoke reaching Paris. In 2026, the same pattern repeated: a slight haze and elevated PM2.5 were recorded in the Paris basin on peak days, with no local fires.

The WMO noted in September 2025 that fires can transport toxic pollutants for thousands of kilometers. The health effects of wildfire smoke are therefore not limited to those near the flames.

Air Quality Data — What Sensors Show

This season's figures are off the charts. Let's review them region by region.

Fontainebleau: PM2.5 peak at ~393 µg/m³ on July 13–14 (Airparif data)

Airparif's bulletin on the Fontainebleau fires is unambiguous. The Recloses station (Rural South-East) recorded hourly PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of approximately 400 µg/m³ on the night of July 13–14, 2026. Le Monde confirmed these readings in its July 14 edition.

To put this in perspective: the WHO recommendation for 24-hour PM2.5 is 15 µg/m³. The Fontainebleau peak represented over 26 times this limit for a single hour.

Even the French regulatory alert threshold for PM2.5 (50 µg/m³ as a daily average) was exceeded by an order of magnitude on an hourly basis.

Gironde and Landes: PM10 alert threshold exceeded on July 27

Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine confirmed a PM10 alert threshold exceedance for Gironde and Landes on July 27. Bordeaux recorded PM2.5 peaks above 300 µg/m³ on July 26, according to Copernicus CAMS data reported by Reuters and other major media outlets.

Limoges, northeast of Bordeaux, experienced PM2.5 peaks above 400 µg/m³ the same weekend — evidence of the distance the plume traveled downwind.

Context: WHO limit is 15 µg/m³ — Fontainebleau was 26 times over

The 2021 WHO guidelines set the 24-hour PM2.5 average at 15 µg/m³. The French information threshold for PM2.5 is 30 µg/m³/day, and the alert threshold is 50 µg/m³/day.

Each of these limits was shattered at the height of the 2026 fires. These are not abstract figures: at 300–400 µg/m³, the European Environment Agency classifies air quality as dangerous / extremely poor. Even healthy adults develop respiratory symptoms at these levels.

Real-time air quality resources

If you are in France right now, check:

Official Recommendations — What Authorities Say

ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine Recommendations (July 28, 2026)

The Regional Health Agency (ARS) Nouvelle-Aquitaine issued a formal statement on July 28, 2026. Its main recommendations:

  • Reduce outdoor time and limit physical exertion
  • Keep doors and windows closed; ventilate only when air quality improves
  • Turn off mechanical ventilation (VMC) during smoke episodes
  • Cover air vents with damp cloths
  • Rinse eyes, face, and skin in case of irritation
  • Continue usual treatment for chronic conditions
  • Wear an FFP2 mask if you have cardio-respiratory or chronic conditions and need to go outside
  • If symptoms persist, contact your doctor; in case of respiratory distress, call 15 (SAMU)

Santé Publique France Recommendations

The national public health agency reiterated these recommendations, adding guidelines for after the fire: avoid areas where ash and debris are visible, as deposited particles can be resuspended by wind or movement. The Lancet estimated that wildfire smoke caused 154,000 deaths worldwide in 2025 from PM2.5 exposure — a figure that underscores the importance of these recommendations.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the distribution of 1.5 million FFP2 masks in Gironde. Pulmonologist Bruno Crestani, president of the Fondation du Souffle, told AFP: "It's not 100% protection, but yes, wearing a mask is useful."

Who should take enhanced precautions

Highest risk:

  • Asthmatics, COPD sufferers, or those with other chronic respiratory conditions
  • People with heart or cardiovascular diseases
  • Elderly individuals (65 and over)
  • Pregnant women
  • Infants and young children

Moderate risk:

  • Healthy adults exercising outdoors
  • People working outdoors

Even healthy adults should avoid prolonged outdoor exposure once PM2.5 exceeds 50 µg/m³. Above 150 µg/m³, everyone is affected.

How to Protect Yourself During a Smoke Episode in France

Outdoors: Limit exposure, wear an FFP3 mask

The most effective outdoor measure during a smoke episode is to wear a properly fitted FFP3 respirator (or N100 equivalent). Why the standard matters:

  • A surgical mask filters almost no PM2.5 — it is not designed for that
  • An FFP2 filters ≥ 94% of particles — useful, and what the government distributes
  • An FFP3 filters ≥ 99% of particles — the highest European standard for particulate protection
  • An FFP3 with an activated carbon layer also reduces VOCs and smoke odor

For a complete comparison of standards against wildfire smoke, consult our detailed guide on the best mask for wildfire smoke.

Outdoor Checklist:

  • Wear an FFP3 mask (or at least FFP2) — ensure a good facial seal
  • Avoid running, cycling, and any activity that increases your breathing rate
  • Limit outings to essential needs
  • If you see smoke or haze, go indoors immediately

Indoors: Seal, purify, create a clean room

Staying indoors helps — but only if you take active measures to prevent smoke from entering.

  • Close all windows and doors — even a small gap lets smoke in
  • Turn off mechanical ventilation (VMC) during smoke episodes
  • Cover air vents with damp cloths or tape
  • Run a HEPA filter air purifier — a HEPA H13 or H14 effectively captures PM2.5
  • Create a "clean room": a room sealed as much as possible, ideally with a purifier running
  • Avoid anything that adds indoor pollution: candles, incense, frying, tobacco

Vulnerable populations: Children, elderly, pregnant women, respiratory conditions

Children breathe faster than adults relative to their weight — they inhale proportionally more smoke. Keep them indoors, cancel outdoor sports activities, and if they must go out, use an FFP2 or FFP3 mask sized for them and properly fitted.

For the elderly and asthma or COPD patients: do not wait for symptoms to act. Damage from PM2.5 can begin before you feel anything. Keep rescue medications handy and follow your care plan.

Pregnant women exposed to wildfire smoke have an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. The level of precaution should be equivalent to that for people with chronic conditions.

When to seek medical attention

Contact your doctor or go to the emergency room if you experience:

  • Persistent cough or wheezing that doesn't improve indoors
  • Chest tightness or pain
  • Shortness of breath at rest
  • Worsening asthma or COPD

Call 15 (SAMU) immediately in case of severe respiratory distress, chest pain, or loss of consciousness.

Is 2026 a particularly bad year for fires in France?

Yes. Unambiguously.

Climatic context — drought, heat, wind

France experienced four major heatwaves in 2026 by the end of July, according to Reuters. The conditions causing the fires are exactly those that climatologists have warned about for years: prolonged drought, record temperatures, and strong, dry winds — a combination that turns pine forests into tinder.

The Landes de Gascogne forest, which covers much of Gironde and Landes, is a monoculture of maritime pines planted in the 19th century. It burns quickly and fiercely. When the wind exceeds 40 km/h in dry conditions, fire fronts advance faster than suppression efforts.

Comparison with 2022 Gironde fires (record year)

The 2022 Gironde fires were then the worst in modern French history — approximately 30,000 hectares burned in Gironde, and about 72,000 hectares nationwide.

2026 has already surpassed that toll. By end of July:

  • ~42,000 hectares burned in Gironde alone
  • > 115,000 hectares burned nationwide — well above the 2022 national record

The scale of the 2026 fires is not just a bad year. It is a structural change. Euronews reported that France had suffered "record destruction by fires" by mid-July — even before the Gironde fire reached its peak.

What seasonal forecasts say

Copernicus CAMS and Prev'Air both indicated a high fire risk in the Southwest until August 2026, with drought conditions expected to persist. The European EFFIS system had placed Gironde, Landes, and parts of Occitanie in "very high" or "extreme" danger for most of July.

The 2026 wildfire season is not over. Anyone in the Southwest should remain vigilant at least until mid-August.

FAQ

Is air quality dangerous in Paris right now because of the fires?

As of July 31, air quality within Paris is in the moderate range—degraded compared to normal, but not at dangerous levels. The main impact was felt in southern Île-de-France during the Fontainebleau fire (July 13–14). Check Airparif's live map for current readings. If you smell smoke, PM2.5 levels are already above safe thresholds.

Should I wear a wildfire smoke mask if I'm in Bordeaux or Gironde?

Yes, if you go outside. ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine specifically recommends FFP2 masks for vulnerable individuals, and an FFP3 offers even higher filtration (≥ 99% of particles). A surgical or cloth mask offers negligible protection against PM2.5. Make sure the mask fits snugly: gaps around the nose or chin nullify its effectiveness.

How long does smoke stay in the air after a fire is contained?

Smoke can persist for several days to several weeks after a fire is "contained." Fine particles (PM2.5) remain suspended much longer than coarse particles and can travel hundreds of kilometers. Harvard's Healthy Buildings Program notes that the cardiorespiratory effects of smoke particles can last for several months after a fire has ended. Do not assume the air is healthy simply because the fire is out.

My child has asthma—what should I do during the smoke episode in Gironde?

Keep them indoors, windows closed, with an air purifier running if you have one. Cancel outdoor activities. If they must go out, use an FFP2 or FFP3 mask properly fitted for their size. Keep their rescue medication accessible and contact your pediatrician if symptoms worsen. ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine's recommendations explicitly identify children as a high-risk population.

Is 2026 worse than the 2022 Gironde fires?

Yes, significantly. The 2022 Gironde fire burned approximately 30,000 hectares; the 2026 fire alone burned approximately 42,000. Nationally, France exceeded 115,000 hectares burned in 2026, compared to approximately 72,000 during the record-breaking 2022 season. Evacuation figures are also higher: over 220,000 people evacuated from Gironde in 2026.

Protect yourself during fire season

As long as smoke is circulating, your best individual protection remains a truly airtight, high-filtration mask. The R-PUR Nano range filters particles down to 0.05 µm—beyond FFP3 requirements—with an activated carbon layer against VOCs and smoke odors, and replaceable filters to last all season.

Useful Resources