France says huge wildfire no longer growing after 220k evacuations

France's interior minister announced that a colossal wildfire in the country's southwest has ceased its expansion, following the evacuation of 220,000 residents. While the immediate progression has halted, officials caution that the fire is not yet fully contained.

The Gironde region blaze has scorched an area equivalent to four times the size of Paris. Overnight, the situation was described as "globally stable," a welcome change from previous days where the fire, active since last week, threatened the city of Bordeaux. In the neighboring Landes region, firefighters are making progress against a smaller but intense fire, aided by some overnight rain.

As France braces for its peak August tourist season, authorities in Gironde are implementing measures to deter visitors, including canceling holiday camps for children and individuals with disabilities. Thousands of firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft, are racing against time to gain control before temperatures are predicted to rise significantly from Tuesday.

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It hasn’t progressed during the night. We have to remain very concentrated, very determined, to go at any moment.

Firefighting efforts include creating firebreaks with earth movers and receiving logistical support from local farmers. Around a dozen countries have sent planes, helicopters, and personnel to assist France and Spain, which is also battling unprecedented wildfires. The combined fires in both nations have displaced over 330,000 people.

President Emmanuel Macron has pledged long-term support for affected communities, vowing to "rebuild, repair and be present for as long as necessary." The exceptional scale of these fires, fueled by early and intense heatwaves that have left vegetation tinder-dry, is intensifying calls for more robust climate action.

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We will rebuild, we will repair and we will be present for as long as necessary.