Anyone about to drive to the South of France and feeling a bit worried?

Antibes is fine. Var is suffering a bit, but even in Var ourselves we've not been directly affected at all yet.

Bordeaux is a bit of a different story, but you'll be fine. Enjoy, it's beautiful.

True, and it's also worth bearing in mind it's only a relatively small part of the south West where things have got out of hand...though I'm not denying it's been dreadful for those in the locality and not fun for those downwind.

We're technically in south West France and it's had zero impact at all apart where we are apart from some delays a few days ago to some trains that were routing to places like Paris via Bordeaux.

I know thanks, that's why I was surprised that someone was saying that Antibes was only 60km away from fire. For me the focus of concern was on the South West where things had clearly gotten out of hand and that's really the other side of the country from Antibes.

Yep. And "a" fire is not at all unusual in that region at this time of year. Especially when you have crazies starting them deliberately! The multiple fires southwest of Bordeaux are a different thing (even though some of those were also started by people) because they've joined together to become a massive, uncontrolled fire which is so big it has created its own weather, if I have understood the explanations I've read about it: at a certain point, fires or volcanic eruptions or similar can create a type of cloud called a "flammagenitus cloud,[1] also known as a flammagenitus, pyrocumulus cloud, or fire cloud", which makes the fire even more uncontrollable. It's more common in the US (says Wiki), but that's what's now happening in the Bordeaux region:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammagenitus_cloud

Ah right, so the point was that Antibes is 60 miles away from A fire, not THE fire.

There are smaller fires in the Var, but I don’t think they’re comparable. Fires happen every summer.
(For all the talk of climate change, it’s worth noting that people have been arrested for deliberately started several of these fires. Just pointing that out)

My sister is a "pompier" (firefighter+) about 200km NE of Cap Ferret - she has holidayed in that area and knows the area. I had a 3hr chat with her yesterday. The pool filters in her swimming pool are black from the particulates in the air over the last few days so air quality is a problem but it does depend on which way the wind is blowing at any particular time. She says no part of the fire has been brought under control so far - she described it as "terrifying". She sent a short message tonight to say some progress has been made today but it's a very fragile situation. So... air quality is something to think about too.

Antibes is more like 600 miles away from the fires in the Bordeaux region that are receiving all the coverage!

I suppose what might worry me is the chance of fires breaking out elsewhere, it's just so bone dry at the moment, perfect conditions and no sign of serious rain.

That said, there’s no sense of panic on the roads. Just stopped at a forested picnic area where there was a sign saying no barbecues due to risk of fire but apart from that all seemed normal. A good few other cars stopped off, no obvious climate refugees!

We’re on the road now heading back up and have just counted 10 army trucks bringing personnel towards the south(west). They are definitely worried about the fires: government advice is not to go on holiday in the Gironde at all, and the SNCF is refunding or rebooking train journeys likely to be affected.

Well actually there are several fires atm ( 20 active on the fire map.)But you likely won’t see them as you will be on the A8 once you get south ( assuming you are taking the fastest route.)
You might see some smoke

Yeah, all ok thanks. 10 degrees cooler than yesterday (25C instead of 35) due to the smoggy sky but not strongly smoky just a faint whiff so it’s fine. We’re heading back up northwards today - I don’t know how long it will take us to be out of the affected zone.
Someone said Bordeaux airport might soon be affected but it wasn’t sure. Still flying this morning anyway.

We had a very brief thunderstorm last night with a tiny amount of rain and some gusts of wind. This morning I can smell smoke but no sign of any emergency so far.

This happened to us one other year (we’ve been to this place several times) when there were huge forest fires near Bordeaux but as there’s no wind now I suspect it’s closer, maybe caused by a tree being hit by lightning last night. Will let you know if I hear more.

Anyway Antibes is not concerned and it doesn’t seem as though your drive to the south east should be a problem. Enjoy your holiday!

Youl be fine. All my family live in Antibes (have a lovely trip)

The fire maps show the risk levels for the region. The Var is usually red through the summer, especially when the Mistral is blowing.

For the most up to date info, you need to follow the fire brigade and Prefet for each departement on FB. The fire brigades are usually SDIS(departement number) - so for the Var it is SDIS83, Alpes Maritimes is SDIS06 etc. They are still at the Pontevès fire as it keeps restarting. The A8 passes underneath that area so you may still see activity. Also, when you pass through the Maures and the Esterèl, if the fire risk is red, the rest areas on the motorway will be shut so plan your loo breaks accordingly!

Don't worry too much, they are very well trained and organised. In our Commune, there is an alert system in place, so if anything happens, you get an alert on your mobile.

Its Les Arcs-sur-Argens but apparently it's under control

I think that's about 60 miles away from where you're going? That may well be enough. Fires all over the UK at the moment so we're probably all near one of those like 60 miles away from one of those

I thought it was best to just say in case you were finding it hard to get information. I heard it from one of DH's friends who is in that region at the moment

Too late to edit the above to say I’ve found it: the poster in that thread only arrived today and is worried much like this @Enfrancais .
It’s no fun smelling the smoke of the fires - that happened to us one year but the wind can carry the smoke quite far. It doesn’t mean they’re in any danger - and it definitely doesn’t mean the OP here can’t go to Antibes which is nowhere near the fires! I’m a LOT closer than they will be at any point on their journey, and we’re not affected at all.

There are some small fires in the south east/provence but they are the usual types of fires that they get every year and are generally under control. There’s been a lot of effort over the last 20 years or so to put in measures to stop fires spreading too much and they’ve broadly been successful so while you still get fires, they tend to be manageable.

Any chance of a link to the thread? I’m just over an hour east/northeast of Bordeaux at the moment and I know more recent arrivals via Bordeaux airport got here no problem. I think the fires are southwest of Bordeaux at Cap Ferret and on down towards Spain.

Well we are in the south east and no bother at all