French wildfire evacuees return home amid lingering concerns and heatwave

Residents of Le Haillan, Mérignac, and Eysines in France's Gironde region are returning to their homes after a massive wildfire forced 60,000 people to evacuate. The order to return was lifted Tuesday afternoon, even as the fire, which scorched 42,000 hectares southwest of France near Bordeaux, continues to burn.

Thomas, a resident of Le Haillan, returned to check on his home. "I came to see if I could smell or see smoke (from the fires) and since I didn't, I think it's safe," he told EFE, taking a brief run in his hometown. However, Éric Poulliat, the mayor of Le Haillan, expressed "concern." He was at the town square awaiting a bus carrying 20 residents evacuated to the Bordeaux Exhibition Center.

The uncertainty of the fire's potential spread during France's fourth heatwave of the summer cast a shadow over the return. Temperatures in the region are expected to approach 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, according to Météo-France. The mayor noted a sparse return of residents to his town of 11,000, contrary to expectations.

Some residents, like Joséphine and her daughter, bypassed official guidelines. They evacuated early Saturday after receiving a phone alert and went to the Bordeaux Exhibition Center. However, her daughter felt unwell and fearful of the crowds, prompting their return home. "We returned home, closed everything, because the air was contaminated, it was unbreathable," Joséphine said, enjoying a walk through the village on Tuesday.

Christophe Baké and his family also expressed relief. "It's a joy to return home," said the father, who works for the Le Haillan town hall. He admitted to feeling uneasy, though, "because the fire is still active." Mayor Poulliat, who is also vice president of the Bordeaux metropolitan region, voiced his dissatisfaction with the regional government delegate's decision to allow residents to return. "It was a shock," he said, recalling the sudden evacuation and the difficulty in managing the situation and now the return, hoping it will be permanent.