France records over 14,000 fires as Southern European blazes persist

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that 14,540 fires or fire starts have been recorded across the country this season, resulting in 402 arrests. Meanwhile, emergency services continue to battle blazes across Southern Europe. In France's Aude department, a new wildfire burned over 100 hectares near Montséret under adverse weather conditions, forcing officials to instruct residents in neighboring Saint-André-de-Roquelongue to shelter in place. In Gironde, evacuated residents began returning to inspect heavily damaged properties.

In Greece, firefighters entered their fifth day combating blazes west of Athens. Although fire officials reported that overall conditions had "markedly improved," local authorities in Megara noted afternoon rekindlings that required renewed aerial water-bombing across damaged pine forests and agricultural land.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info