French emergency crews contain southern wildfires while high risk levels persist

Firefighters across southern France have stabilized several major blazes, though persistent extreme weather keeps authorities on high alert. In the Aude department, emergency crews brought a 100-hectare fire near Montséret under control after deploying 240 personnel, 60 vehicles, and ten aircraft. A separate 225-hectare blaze in Puilaurens stopped advancing, but fire officials noted that active hot spots remain difficult to access.

In the Var department, recent blazes were put out, but officials prohibited access to seven forest massifs due to severe fire risks. Meanwhile, containment efforts on the Gironde mega-fire have halted its spread, prompting Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu to schedule an August 17 visit to initiate regional recovery efforts. Official figures indicate that over 115,000 hectares have burned nationwide this year.

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