French firefighters contain key wildfires as summer damage reaches 115,000 hectares

Firefighters across southern France have largely stabilized major blazes, though high risks persist. In the Aude department, emergency teams contained a wildfire around Montséret after it burned approximately 100 hectares, while an active fire near Puilaurens remains contained within a 225-hectare area despite difficult terrain.

In the Var department, authorities extinguished a main blaze but prohibited public access to seven forest massifs due to extreme fire conditions. Meanwhile, fires in Drôme and Gironde have halted their progress. Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu scheduled an August 17 visit to Gironde to oversee local recovery efforts. Official figures report that wildfires have scorched over 115,000 hectares in France this year.

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