French firefighters contain major wildfires as reconstruction planning begins

French emergency personnel continue to combat wildfires across southern regions, though firefighters have contained several major blazes. In the Aude department, an emergency response involving 240 personnel and ten aircraft stabilized a 100-hectare fire in Montséret within the Corbières massif. Meanwhile, a separate fire covering 225 hectares in nearby Puilaurens remains active due to steep, inaccessible terrain.

Risk levels remain elevated across southern France. Authorities in the Var department restricted public access to seven forest massifs due to severe fire conditions, despite extinguishing earlier blazes. In Gironde, where the main wildfire is no longer advancing, Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu scheduled an August 17 visit to initiate local reconstruction efforts. Official figures report that wildfires have burned over 115,000 hectares across France this year.

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