France's Gironde Wildfire Controlled After Ten Days, Volunteers Aid Effort

A massive wildfire that engulfed the Gironde department in southwestern France was finally fixed after more than ten days of intensive fighting. Most of the evacuated residents have been allowed to return to their homes, though the blaze remains unextinguished. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised the response, noting that no civilian lives were lost but mourning the four firefighters who died.

Volunteer groups comprising local artisans, electricians, beekeepers and other residents played a crucial role, monitoring smoke and dousing flames with water. In the neighboring Var department, the fire situation is described as stabilised, while a heatwave keeps twenty French departments on orange vigilance. Authorities stress that the situation remains fluid and that any resurgence of the fire would trigger renewed precautions.