Southern France wildfires threaten celebrity estates and local villages

Massive wildfires are raging across southern France, prompting evacuations in villages such as Brignoles. The flames have approached the historic Château Miraval, the vineyard estate owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and forced George Clooney and his family to leave their home in the region. Clooney wrote to the mayor, saying, “Dear Dintie, we have no idea if our beautiful house will survive this terrible test.” No destruction of the properties has been confirmed, but fire crews are battling the blaze with ground and aerial resources.

The fires are among the largest recorded in modern French and Spanish history, causing widespread evacuations and highlighting the combined impact of extreme heat, prolonged drought, strong winds, and human factors. Experts cite climate change and occasional arson or negligence as contributors, urging stronger prevention measures across Europe.