French emergency crews contain Aude wildfire as national destruction reaches 115,000 hectares

French firefighters have contained a wildfire in the Aude department near Montséret after it burned 100 hectares of land. However, emergency crews continue to struggle with an active blaze in nearby Puilaurens, which remains spread across 225 hectares due to inaccessible terrain.

Authorities in the Var department have banned public access to seven forest massifs because of heightened fire risks, despite local blazes being extinguished. Meanwhile, in Gironde, conditions have stabilized enough for Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu to plan an August 17 visit aimed at beginning local reconstruction efforts.

Official figures from the Ministry of the Interior indicate that wildfires have consumed 115,000 hectares across France since the beginning of the year.

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