Euronews covers events in France where a wildfire ravaged a medieval village in Provence overnight, destroying close to 60 homes and burning thousands of hectares, as locals welcomed displaced people.
On Wednesday morning, ash still blanketed the streets of Cotignac after a wildfire ignited the previous afternoon rapidly swept through the historic cliffside village in Provence, destroying almost 60 houses and scorching thousands of hectares across five municipalities during the night.
ADVERTISEMENT 
ADVERTISEMENT
The fire originated in a field near Pontevès on Tuesday and quickly spread northward, propelled by strong winds and drought conditions, before reaching Cotignac overnight.
By early morning, it had engulfed surrounding communes, prompting a deployment of more than 900 firefighters, including reinforcements from southern France and Marseille’s naval firefighters.
Four individuals sustained injuries — two firefighters and two civilians. Approximately 500 people were evacuated across the affected areas by Wednesday afternoon. Power outages impacted thousands of homes, mostly in Cotignac.
The village itself, known for frequently being listed among France’s most picturesque and whose summer population peaks from about 2,500 to almost 10,000, suffered the greatest losses.
The Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Grâces, a 16th-century pilgrimage destination built at the site where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared in 1519, along with the nearby Monastery of Saint-Joseph du Bessillon, were evacuated and came close to the firefront but ultimately escaped destruction.
Both domestic animals and wildlife in adjacent forests endured hardship during the night. Livestock trucks were seen being evacuated from the hills on Tuesday. Some residents informed Euronews of horses lost in stables damaged by the flames overnight.
Wild boars, or sangliers, thriving in great numbers across Provence, were observed fleeing along lower roads in daylight, escaping the wildfire.
On Wednesday, firefighting teams continued efforts to safeguard a large group of horses in Correns, located roughly 20 kilometres from Cotignac.
For those who endured the night, survival hinged on rapid choices and frequently the generosity of strangers.
Lolita Philippon, a village resident, recounted how an elderly relative nearly became trapped by the fire in the Caillades district.
«My ex-mother-in-law was caught in the flames. She returned home to rescue her cats and secure them safely. While escaping, she got trapped by the fire,» Roubard told Euronews.
«Her sister managed to get her back into the car. Although they intended to leave together, they became stuck. Panicking, she exited the vehicle.»
The woman then found refuge in a neighbour’s pool, according to Roubard.
«It’s unclear how she contacted her son, who came to help and reached the firefighters. He pulled her from the water, firefighters assisted her, and then they were directed to Le Val,» she elaborated.
Many open their homes to strangers
Due to delayed official updates, much of the village’s communications throughout the night relied on informal community networks.
«We gathered in the village center watching smoke roll over the hills from a massive fire seemingly just behind us, while official information was scarce,» said resident John Michael Peck to Euronews.
«People congregated in familiar spots to share information, eager to learn how close the fire was and what actions to take,» Peck added.
«Many have relatives or friends who are pompiers around here, so firsthand information circulated quickly through word of mouth, reaching those who needed it.»
This local network, he noted, resulted in tangible support.
«Numerous residents opened their homes to strangers. Anyone forced to evacuate or from affected areas came to the village and was welcomed and cared for through these community connections,» Peck explained.
«Priests and nuns from Notre-Dame, which was nearly consumed by flames, found lodging with locals without difficulty.»
Peck mentioned that Lou Calen, an eco-resort featuring a Michelin Green-starred restaurant, opened its doors Wednesday morning, providing breakfast to those who had been sheltering at the sanctuary.
Peck himself relocated to the home of a friend’s acquaintance in Salernes, saying, «I arrived with my cat, my best friend, and his baby, and they took us in as family.»
«That’s Cotignac,» he concluded.
‘They are completely lost’
The devastation left some families without possessions. «When I arrived at work this morning, my colleague shared that his parents had lost their home in last night’s Cotignac fire,» said resident Manon Roubard to Euronews.
«Consequently, they had to relocate. Fortunately, Carcès opened free accommodations for evacuees,» she added.
«They went to Carcès, and a friend invited them to stay overnight, which offered at least some relief, but the situation remains deeply painful,» Roubard described.
«They are utterly lost. It’s especially difficult for elderly people who risk losing everything,» she remarked.
The nearby town of Carcès enacted its emergency response plan, opening three shelters, including a gymnasium and the Château hall, to assist evacuees from the impacted zones.
The fire remained active but diminished in intensity by Wednesday morning, according to the Var prefecture. Authorities continued assessing home damage.