France activates Orsec extreme heat plan as wildfires spread

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France activated an "Orsec extreme heat plan" for departments facing a severe heatwave, initially covering nine western departments on red alert and due to extend to 24 departments including Ile-de-France. National forecaster Météo France placed 72 departments on orange alert. Authorities reported over 8,000 fire outbreaks this year, burning more than 25,000 hectares, roughly double last year, and recorded more than 2,000 excess deaths in June plus 300 in May. The government opened cooling centres and has installed 6,000 of 30,000 promised hospital air conditioners as high temperatures are expected until 14 July.

Orsec extreme heat plan activated amid doubled wildfire burn area.