Aided by firefighting helicopters and aircraft, the firefighters had the blaze under control by evening, officials said, but a forecast of more strong winds meant it might yet advance further towards France's second most populous city.
The fire, fanned by winds of up to 70 kph (43 mph), could be smelt in the centre of Marseille as thick clouds of smoke hovered over the city on the Mediterranean coast.
"It’s very striking - apocalyptic even," said Monique Baillard, a resident of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, the town north of Marseille where officials said the fire started on a highway.
The fire has burnt through 700 hectares (1,730 acres) and was considered to be under control even though it is still burning, regional prefect Georges-Francois Leclerc said.
About 20 buildings have been at least partly hit by the fire but no fatalities have been reported and hundreds of homes have been saved by firefighters, he said. Over 700 firefighters were battling the blaze, aided by firefighting helicopters and aircraft.
