France wildfire contained after 10 days
Bordeaux wildfire held within perimeter after days of devastation Live Events International crews reinforce firefighting effort Provence fire remains active despite slower spread George Clooney
Bordeaux wildfire held within perimeter after days of devastation Live Events International crews reinforce firefighting effort Provence fire remains active despite slower spread George Clooney among recent evacuees Climate change increasing wildfire risk, scientists say France prepares for recovery even as fire season continues as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel France's largest wildfire of the summer has been brought under control after tearing through forests near Bordeaux for 10 days, but authorities warned on Sunday that the danger is far from over as extreme heat, dry weather and gusty winds continue to threaten fresh flare-ups.Even as firefighters gained the upper hand in the southwest, another wildfire in southeastern France remained active, keeping thousands of emergency personnel on high alert across the country.The wildfire in the Gironde region has burned roughly 420 square kilometres (162 square miles)—an area nearly four times the size of Paris—making it one of the country's most destructive blazes in recent years.Officials said the fire has now been contained within its established perimeter, a milestone that prevents further spread.
However, they stressed that containment does not mean the flames have been extinguished.Thousands of firefighters continued to patrol the scarred landscape, dousing hidden hot spots, strengthening firebreaks and monitoring areas where lingering embers could reignite under changing weather conditions.The Gironde prefecture maintained its highest-level red forest fire alert, citing soaring temperatures around Bordeaux and forecast afternoon winds that could rapidly reverse recent progress.Around 3,000 firefighters remain deployed between the Gironde and Provence fire zones.France is also receiving reinforcements from Ukraine, Lithuania and French Polynesia, with additional crews expected to join operations over the next two days as authorities prepare for another spell of difficult firefighting conditions.The Bordeaux wildfire triggered one of the largest civilian evacuations seen in France outside wartime, forcing around 224,000 residents and visitors to leave their homes. Many evacuees are still unable to return as emergency teams secure the affected areas.In the southeastern Var department, firefighters spent the night preventing another major blaze from advancing through the Gros Bessillon hills.Authorities said the fire's perimeter remained stable overnight, but it has not yet been officially contained.The blaze has already destroyed nearly 18 square kilometres (seven square miles) of vegetation in just over a day, prompting the evacuation of about 2,500 people from nearby communities.Water-bombing aircraft continued to assist ground crews as they worked to shield villages surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and dense woodland in the Green Provence region.The latest emergency marks the fourth significant wildfire to hit central Var since July 19.The region has faced repeated wildfire emergencies over the past two weeks.
The BriefWire