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🇮🇸 Iceland /Disasters & Emergencies

France gains control of country's largest wildfires since 1949

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • France has finally gained control over the country's largest wildfires since 1949, according to the prime minister.
  • Weeks of fighting wildfires followed a series of deadly heatwaves that have hit the country this summer.
  • In the Gironde region, the fire destroyed 42,000 hectares of pine forest and ruined about 240 homes.

French firefighters have finally brought under control the country's most severe wildfires since 1949, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced. "Overall, the fires in our country are now under control," Lecornu told La Tribune Dimanche.

The largest wildfire erupted near Bordeaux in southwestern France more than a week ago. The situation there has stabilized, Lecornu said. France has been battling wildfires for weeks amid a series of deadly heatwaves this summer.

Overall, the fires in our country are now under control.

— Sébastien LecornuPrime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that France had gained control over the country's largest wildfires since 1949.

In the Gironde region, near the wine capital of Bordeaux, the blaze consumed 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres) of pine forest along the Atlantic coast. About 240 homes were also destroyed.

Sophie Brocas, the prefect of the Gironde region, urged caution on Saturday. "Although the fire is under control, it does not mean it is extinguished," she warned, citing two "hot spots" that remained a concern. Most of the 224,000 people evacuated have returned home, but others must wait for the fire to be fully extinguished.

Although the fire is under control, it does not mean it is extinguished.

— Sophie BrocasSophie Brocas, the prefect of the Gironde region, urged caution despite the prime minister's announcement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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