France's wildfire situation showed signs of easing on Thursday morning, with officials reporting calmer conditions across several major fire zones.
More than 92,000 hectares have burned across France since January, already making 2026 the country's worst year for wildfire damage since satellite monitoring began two decades ago.
Scientists say prolonged drought, exceptionally dry vegetation and increasingly frequent heatwaves linked to climate change have significantly increased the risk and intensity of wildfires across southern Europe.
The country's largest wildfire since 1949, which has burned around 42,000 hectares in the Gironde département, remained stable overnight, while separate fires in the Var and the Fontainebleau forest near Paris have also been brought under control.
Gironde fire stable
