Firefighters battle wildfires in France and Greece as residents assess damage
Firefighters tackle blazes in France's Drôme and Gironde regions while conditions improve near Athens, Greece.
Firefighters in France and Greece continue to confront widespread wildfires across Southern Europe. In France’s Drôme department, around 300 firefighters, backed by water-bomber aircraft, were mobilized near Bellegarde-en-Diois, forcing the preventive evacuation of about 50 residents.
In Gironde, evacuees in Le Porge have started returning to burnt properties, while community groups in affected areas prepare legal actions and discuss the future management of damaged forests. Meanwhile, Greek authorities announced that conditions west of Athens have substantially improved after a five-day wildfire burned thousands of hectares of land, though scattered blazes remain under surveillance.
Sources: Le Figaro, Le Soir, Le Monde, Libération
Sources
- Libération — «De notre maison, il ne reste plus que quatre murs, autour tout est un tas de cendres» : les sinistrés du Porge de retour dans un village méconnaissable
- Le Monde — En Gironde, après l’incendie, la bataille qui s’annonce pour faire émerger une « nouvelle forêt »
- Le Figaro — EN DIRECT - Incendie en France : un feu de forêt menace plusieurs centaines d’hectares dans la Drôme, 300 pompiers mobilisés
- Le Soir — Incendie en Grèce : la situation « s’améliore » à l’ouest d’Athènes (photos)
Earlier coverage
- Oct 16, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCFrench firefighters contain Corbières wildfire as blazes stabilize nationwide
- Oct 15, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCFirefighters contain Corbières blaze as French wildfire risks remain high
- Oct 15, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCFirefighters contain Corbières wildfire as French emergency services stabilize active blazes
- Oct 15, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCFrench firefighters stabilize key blazes as fire risk remains high in south
- Oct 11, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCWildfires in southern France contained in Aude as Gironde recovery plans take shape
- Oct 9, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCFrench firefighters contain Aude wildfire as elevated risk persists in south
- Oct 4, 2026, 08:00 AM UTCFrench emergency services stabilize key wildfires as severe risks persist
- Sep 14, 2026, 04:00 AM UTCFirefighters contain blazes across southern France as recovery efforts begin
- Sep 13, 2026, 10:00 AM UTCFrench firefighters contain several wildfires as recovery efforts begin
- Sep 11, 2026, 11:30 AM UTCFrench emergency services contain Corbières blaze as fire risk remains elevated