France Allows 84,000 Wildfire Evacuees to Return Home
French officials have authorized the return of 84,000 people displaced by a large wildfire in the Bordeaux region, citing progress in containment and improving weather conditions.
French authorities gave the go-ahead on Thursday for 84,000 evacuees from a wildfire that has burned about 42,000 hectares in the Bordeaux area to return to their homes. The decision follows a slowdown in the fire’s spread and a shift to cooler, more humid weather.
Residents of nine localities, including Martignas-sur-Jalle, were allowed back after officials deemed the areas safe. One returnee, Sanachit Pho Ne Keo, said his home showed only ash on the terrace and appeared undamaged. Regional health officials advised people to wear gloves and masks while cleaning, and to wash children’s toys and pets’ belongings.
"We’re on the right track," said Sophie Brocas, prefect of the Gironde region, who authorized the return for nearly two-thirds of the 224,000 people evacuated.
The A63 highway south of Bordeaux was also reopened, restoring a key transport route as France enters its peak holiday period. Firefighters continue to work on the remaining blaze, employing water-dropping aircraft, helicopters, police water cannons, and heavy machinery to create firebreaks that now total more than 130 kilometres. Controlled burns are also being used to remove vegetation that could reignite the fire.
The fire-season situation across southern Europe remains challenging, with heatwaves and dry conditions prompting evacuations and firefighting efforts in Greece, Spain, Turkey, Germany, England and other countries.