Terrifying footage has emerged from Saint-Tropez, France of residents who were forced to flee to the beach as fire engulfed their home.

In the clip, which was filmed on July 24, the residents watch from the dunes as a huge plume of smoke hovers above their home.

"A very strong forest fire started 1km from our house and in less than an hour reached our neighbourhood," the filmer wrote online.

"We had no other solution than to run to the beach, leaving all our belongings behind as all other roads were cut by either the flames or the intoxicating smoke."