French firefighters contain Aude blaze as nationwide scorched area exceeds 115,000 hectares
French firefighters have contained a 100-hectare blaze in Aude, though a 225-hectare fire near Puilaurens remains active. Nationwide, wildfires have scorched over 115,000 hectares this year.
Firefighters in France have made progress containing several wildfires, though challenges persist in rugged regions. In the Aude department, emergency teams contained a 100-hectare blaze near Montséret, while a separate 225-hectare fire near Puilaurens remains active due to steep, inaccessible terrain. Elsewhere, conditions have stabilized: blazes in the Var department were extinguished, fires in Drôme were contained, and the megafire in Gironde stopped advancing.
Due to severe ongoing fire risks, prefectural authorities in Var banned public entry to seven forest massifs. Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced an August 17 visit to Gironde to launch recovery and reconstruction efforts for damaged communities. Official data indicates that wildfires have scorched over 115,000 hectares across France since the beginning of the year.
Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info.
Sources
- RTBF Info — Feux de forêt en France : le massif des Corbières (Aude) à nouveau touché par un incendie qui a déjà parcouru 100 hectares
- Le Monde — EN DIRECT, incendies : dans l’Aude, le feu signalé à Montséret est « fixé »
- Le Figaro — Incendies en France : le feu qui a touché les Corbières «désormais fixé», Sébastien Lecornu en Gironde le 17 août
- Libération — L’incendie est «éteint» dans le Var, «fixé» dans la Drôme, «ne progresse plus» en Gironde : le point sur les brasiers en France
- Le Soir — Moyens importants, un incendie « pas encore fixé »… ce que l’on sait du feu de forêt en cours en France
Earlier coverage
- Oct 26, 2026, 09:30 PM UTCFrench firefighters contain Aude wildfire while Puilaurens blaze remains active
- Oct 26, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCFrench emergency crews contain Aude wildfire as nationwide damage rises
- Oct 25, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCFrench firefighters contain Corbières wildfire as regional reconstruction plans take shape
- Oct 25, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCFrench firefighters stabilize blazes as reconstruction plans take shape
- Oct 25, 2026, 06:30 AM UTCFrench emergency services contain major wildfires as risk levels remain high
- Oct 24, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCFrench firefighters stabilize Aude blazes as nationwide wildfire damage mounts
- Oct 24, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCFrench firefighters stabilize major wildfires as blazes burn 115,000 hectares nationwide
- Oct 24, 2026, 03:30 AM UTCFrench firefighters contain several blazes as year's wildfire toll exceeds 115,000 hectares
- Oct 23, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCFrench emergency services stabilize key wildfires despite lingering hotspots
- Oct 23, 2026, 09:30 AM UTCFrench emergency crews stabilize major wildfires as total burned area hits 115,000 hectares