French firefighters contain southern wildfires as restoration plans begin in Gironde

Emergency services across southern France have contained or stabilized several key wildfires, though responders remain on high alert. In the Aude department, a 100-hectare blaze near Montséret was contained after officials deployed 240 firefighters and ten aircraft while instructing local residents to shelter in place. Nearby in Puilaurens, a 225-hectare fire stopped advancing but remains active in steep, inaccessible terrain.

In the Var region, local blazes were completely extinguished, though authorities barred public access to seven forest massifs due to extreme fire risks. Meanwhile, progress on the massive Gironde wildfire has stalled, prompting Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu to schedule an August 17 visit to initiate regional restoration efforts. Official figures indicate wildfires have burned over 115,000 hectares in France this year.

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