A wildfire in south-west France has burned through some 1,500 hectares (5.8 sq miles) local authorities said on Sunday (July 5) after it started inland from the coastal city of Perpignan.

No general evacuation orders have been issued for settlements surrounding the affected area, a hilly region close to the Spanish border.

The fire could threaten the third stage of the Tour de France on Monday (July 6) when cyclists are due to cross the finish line in Les Angles, some 60 kilometres (37.2 miles) from the blaze.

A decision on whether to cancel the third stage will be taken "before the end of the day", local authorities said on Sunday, though race director Christian Prudhomme said earlier the route could be adapted if necessary.

Extreme heat and wildfires have broken out across Europe, with blazes in France and Spain raising safety concerns around this year's Tour de France, which kicked off in Barcelona on Saturday (July 4).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TREVILLACH, FRANCE (JULY 5, 2026) (BFMTV - No use France) (MUTE)

1. VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING AND SMOKE RISING IN AIR

2. HELICOPTER DUMPING WATER ON FIRE

3. VARIOUS OF HELICOPTERS FLYING AROUND AREA HIT BY WILDFIRE

PERPIGNAN, FRANCE (JULY 5, 2026) (BFMTV - No use France)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PREFECT OF PYRENEES-ORIENTALES DEPARTMENT, PIERRE REGNAULT DE LA MOTHE, SAYING:

"Driven by an east wind, it has covered, at the moment I am speaking to you, approximately 1,500 hectares (5.8 sq miles). It is a fire that represents, to give you an idea of the scale, a perimeter of about 18 kilometres (11.2 miles) that is to say that it is an edge that is very long."

TREVILLACH, FRANCE (JULY 5, 2026) (BFMTV - No use France) (MUTE)

5. FIRE SERVICE VEHICLES AT SITE OF FIRE