{"id":327601,"date":"2025-08-08T10:14:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/327601\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:14:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:14:11","slug":"what-caused-wildfires-in-france-in-2024-natural-versus-human-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/327601\/","title":{"rendered":"What caused wildfires in France in 2024? Natural versus human activity"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recent fire in Aude was the worst in France since 1949<\/p>\n

\n Wildfire in Marseille last month (July 2025) burned hundreds of hectares of land and destroyed homes
\n Bumble Dee \/ Shutterstock\n <\/p>\n

Investigations into the origin of the recent major wildfire in Aude<\/a> are ongoing, after the blaze burned through some 17,000 hectares of land. <\/p>\n

The blaze began next to a river in the Ribaute commune on Tuesday, burning for three days and becoming the most devastating in France since 1949.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is not always possible for authorities to determine the origin of wildfires however the Ministry of Agriculture has identified the source of some 60% of those in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The majority (88%) were caused by human activity with only 12% coming from natural causes such as lightning.<\/p>\n

The 88% comprised:<\/p>\n

Deliberate activity (arson), where a person begins a fire with intent. Almost one third (31%) of fires last year began this way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

18% accidental, such as the recent fire in Marseille<\/a> where a car caught on fire and the sparks from this blaze set alight nearby trees, sparking the rapid-spreading fire.<\/p>\n

22% \u2018unintentional\u2019 or on work sites (17%) where people had lit a fire but had not met safety precautions, such as ensuring barbecues are fully put out, following orders to stay away from certain at-risk areas etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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