France, Spain report progress against wildfires as heatwave looms

Authorities in France and Spain report progress in combating large-scale wildfires that have ravaged parts of both countries. In France's southwestern Gironde region, the wildfire, despite some flare-ups, is considered "stabilized," according to officials. The fire is not spreading further, though it reignited in 14 previously affected spots.

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The fire is still stabilized.

Residents of three localities near Bordeaux, Le Haillan, Mérignac, and Eysines, have been permitted to return home, provided they are prepared to evacuate again if the threat re-emerges. These residents were initially evacuated early Saturday. The Bordeaux fire has consumed 42,000 hectares, and approximately 220,000 people have been moved to safety. Tourists in the coastal town of Lacanau were also recently advised to evacuate.

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We see light at the end of the tunnel.

In Spain, firefighting crews are also reporting significant successes. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated, "We see light at the end of the tunnel," after a crisis meeting in Madrid. He vowed that the government would deploy all resources "until the last flame" is extinguished. The government has declared the affected areas as disaster zones to expedite aid.

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The government will deploy all available resources until the last flame is extinguished.

Sánchez reiterated his call for a cross-party climate pact, warning that denying human-caused climate change fuels the fire crisis. The ongoing firefighting efforts are a race against time as Spain anticipates its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures potentially reaching 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) from Wednesday to Sunday, which could complicate operations. The provinces of Ávila, Madrid, and Toledo have been particularly hard-hit, with nearly 80,000 hectares of forest and bushland destroyed. However, the spread has slowed considerably since the weekend, and residents of 13 villages have been allowed to return home, with evacuation orders lifted for four additional communities.

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The denial of human-caused climate change is the worst fuel in the fight against fires and the climate crisis.