French Evacuees Return Home as Firefighters Tame Wildfire

French officials allowed 84,000 evacuees to return to their homes in southwest France after battling a massive wildfire. This decision indicates progress in controlling the flames, which have affected an area four times larger than Paris.

The return permits apply to nine localities that were evacuated. In total, more than 220,000 residents were displaced last week.

Volunteers assist firefighters in combating the wildfire near Lanton, east of Arcachon Bay, west of Bordeaux. Photo by Ed Jones / AFP via Getty Images.

Increasing humidity, cooler temperatures, and light rain provided optimism for progress against the fire. Local reports described a ‘rather calm’ night, with the blaze remaining at approximately 162 square miles. Fire crews continue their full deployment with over 2,200 firefighters and more than 20 aircraft. Light rain fell early Thursday in Bordeaux.

Gironde region’s prefect, Sophie Brocas, showed optimism about the cooler temperatures aiding efforts. She mentioned that if conditions improved, residents and businesses might soon resume normal activities.

A fire break, created by locals near Lège-Cap-Ferret, west of Bordeaux, on Wednesday. Photo by Philippe Lopez / AFP via Getty Images.

Humidity reached 80% overnight yet was projected to fall by midday. Additional coastal rainfall may potentially impact the fire zone. Temperatures that reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) a day earlier were set to decrease to 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday along the coast. The ‘orange’ heatwave alert, the second-highest level, was lifted before dawn.

The fires are part of a series of blazes sweeping southern Europe, including Spain and Greece. These fires have disrupted the Bordeaux region, known for wine production, forests, and tourism.

Firefighters strive to extinguish a forest fire near Blagon during the wildfires. Photo by Emma Da Silva / AP.

In Turkey, multiple forest fires broke out in four western provinces, as reported by the Anadolu news agency. Fires in Mugla, Antalya, and other areas continued overnight, fueled by hot weather and strong winds. Evacuations took place while firefighting planes and helicopters were deployed.

Neighboring Greece reported the deaths of three firefighters on Crete, amidst a broader wildfire emergency spreading from the Atlantic to the eastern Mediterranean.

At the height of the evacuations, 300,000 individuals were displaced from homes and holiday locations in France and Spain.