France’s wildfire situation has shown signs of improvement on Monday, with thousands of residents and tourists preparing to return to evacuated areas in the south-west, even as firefighters remained on alert amid high temperatures, low humidity and a new risk of violent thunderstorms.
Issued on: 03/08/2026 - 11:37
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The largest blaze, in the Gironde department near Bordeaux, has been contained after burning through around 42,000 hectares in 11 days. The fire is no longer advancing, although crews are still tackling hotspots that could continue smouldering for months in the area’s dry, peaty soil. Authorities have authorised the return of thousands of evacuees to Le Porge – the municipality worst affected by the fire – from Monday afternoon. Residents and holidaymakers will also be allowed back into Lège-Cap-Ferret, including the popular tourist peninsula, from the evening, although campsites and several areas undergoing mine-clearing operations will remain closed. Almost all of the 224,000 people evacuated from 23 municipalities since the fire began on 22 July will then have been allowed to return to their homes or holiday accommodation. Heatwaves to increase 'fivefold by 2050', warns French weather bureau chief A long battle in the Var Elsewhere, firefighters continued to battle a major blaze in the Var department, a Mediterranean region known for its vineyards, olive groves and stone-built villages. The fire, which began on Friday, had burned around 1,850 hectares by Sunday evening and was still not under control. Officials warned that fully extinguishing it would take several days, with shifting winds, temperatures above 36C and humidity levels as low as 15 percent complicating operations. Around 1,500 firefighters remained deployed, although evacuation and shelter-in-place orders were lifted on Sunday after the situation improved. Two significant flare-ups were quickly contained with the help of ground crews and water-bombing aircraft. Seventy homes have been damaged, including 41 that were completely destroyed. More than a dozen houses were lost in Correns, where Mayor Nicole Rullan described flames racing through the village at “a terrifying speed”. Resident Pascal Martinez said the lush village had once resembled a “Garden of Eden” as he continued pouring water on the smouldering remains of his olive grove. It is the fourth major wildfire to hit central Var since 19 July. Around 7,450 hectares have burned in the department since the beginning of July. As Bordeaux blaze eases, Ukraine sends reinforcements to France Storm warnings bring fresh risks Near Carcassonne, in the southern Aude department, a fire sparked by a burning vehicle on the A61 motorway spread across around 100 hectares before being contained on Sunday night. Some 280 firefighters, 60 fire engines and a fleet of water-bombing aircraft were deployed. Around 150 people were evacuated and the motorway between Toulouse and Narbonne was temporarily closed. The changing weather could offer some relief but also create new dangers. Météo-France placed seven south-western departments on orange alert for thunderstorms from Monday afternoon, warning of intense lightning, heavy hail and strong winds. A separate orange heatwave alert remained in force across 20 departments in eastern and south-eastern France, including the Var. Temperatures are expected to fall in western France on Tuesday, although the heat is forecast to return on Wednesday around the Mediterranean coast and the Rhône valley. In Gironde, additional firefighters from Ukraine, Lithuania and French Polynesia are due to reinforce local teams. Officials say operations could continue until the winter rains, but the gradual reopening of evacuated communities has raised hopes of a cautious return to normality before the end of the summer season. (with newswires)
