Wildlife at risk as fresh heatwave fuels wildfire danger in the region

As temperatures climb toward 37°C and 1,500 firefighters battle persistent blazes in the neighbouring Var department, authorities are enforcing strict restrictions across the region. Both the Alpes-Maritimes and neighbouring Var departments face a challenging Monday under a strict orange heatwave alert, with extreme heat, strong winds, and an exceptionally high risk of wildfires keeping emergency services on maximum alert. Just to the west, the Var department faces another tough day on the fire lines. In the neighbouring Alpes-Maritimes, the prefecture has placed the Estérel-Tanneron massif under red alert for a ‘very severe’ wildfire risk. Conservation experts advise the public to follow simple safety guidelines: never enter burnt or dangerous zones to search for animals, and place any distressed wildlife found outside danger zones gently into a ventilated cardboard box without extra handling.