Fast-moving French fire kills one as 1,500 battle the blaze

A large and rapidly spreading vegetation fire in southern France has killed a woman who refused to evacuate her home, the local prefecture and a mayor said on Wednesday.

The victim – a woman in her 60s – died at home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Mayor Xavier de Volontat told the broadcaster BFMTV.

When the neighbourhoods threatened by the fire were being evacuated, the woman refused to leave her home, he said. “The fire came very quickly, and she was trapped in her burning house,” he said.

Overnight, the fire spread across 12,000 hectares, affecting 15 municipalities. Currently, 1,500 firefighters are working to contain the blaze, with hundreds more expected to join later in the morning. Aerial firefighting operations resumed in the morning.

Several locations have been evacuated due to the fire. “The civil protection department managed to accommodate and shelter more than 500 people during this very difficult night,” a spokesman for the agency told BFMTV.

One missing, several injured

The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the municipality of Ribaute, located in the southern French region of Aude, roughly between the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne. The flames then spread rapidly through the mountainous Corbières region, fuelled by strong winds.

The local prefecture expects unfavourable weather conditions to persist today. Two civilians have been injured in the fire, one of whom suffered severe burns. Additionally, seven firefighters have been injured during the operation. One person is reported missing.

Tourists were forced to evacuate two campsites in the area during the holiday season. Numerous roads have been closed due to the fire, including a section of the A9 motorway.

Early in the morning, 2,500 households were without electricity. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors unless explicitly instructed to evacuate.