Wildfires in France’s southwest, centered in the Gironde department, are currently stabilised after about a week of fires linked to a major heatwave across Europe. French officials report calmer conditions over recent days, including what they describe as a second relatively calm night. Authorities begin allowing many evacuees to return home, with estimates across reports indicating that nearly 60,000 people can go back after evacuations that totaled more than 220,000, including tens of thousands outside Bordeaux.
Despite stabilization, multiple outlets warn that the situation could worsen as a fourth heatwave of the year approaches France. Temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the Gironde area, with additional high-temperature forecasts in other parts of France, including Paris. Officials and firefighters expect that strengthening winds and very hot conditions could reignite embers and lead to new flare-ups. Reports also note that on July 28 there are about 14 incidents where scorched areas reignite, keeping firefighters engaged in containment efforts.
