France forest fires largely contained as WWII munitions explode in Gironde

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the widespread forest fires that have ravaged southwestern France are now generally under control, citing a stabilising weather pattern after an unprecedented heat wave. He noted that since the start of the year France recorded 13,566 fire incidents, burning 116,085 hectares – far above the previous record of 72,000 hectares in 2022 – and that 162 suspects have been arrested for arson since 6 July.

In the Gironde department, extreme temperatures caused a depot of abandoned World‑War‑II artillery shells in the commune of Le Porge to detonate, producing around 100 explosions on 23‑24 July. No injuries were reported, but the blasts scattered munitions across the area, prompting bomb‑disposal teams to secure the site. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that the fire front in Gironde still stretches over 240 km and remains critical, despite the overall containment claim.

The fires are part of a broader European heatwave that has also severely affected Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.