APTOPIX France Wildfires

A firefighter creates a controlled burn to contain a fire area near Lege-Cap-Ferret, during wildfires in southwestern France, Thursday, July 30, 2026.

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As France tames wildfire and lets 84,000 evacuees go home, blazes flare across Europe

As France tames wildfire and lets 84,000 evacuees go home, blazes flare across Europe

France has allowed 84,000 evacuees to return home after a massive wildfire forced them out. This marks progress in the fight against the flames, which have burned an area four times the size of Paris. However, fires continue to flare across Europe. On Thursday, firefighters battled blazes in the UK, Spain, Germany, and Turkey. In southwest France, 224,000 people had to evacuate. The prefect in the region around Bordeaux, Sophie Brocas, says nearly two-thirds of evacuees can return. Authorities advise caution as conditions remain volatile. The heatwave has created tinderbox conditions across southern Europe, leading to widespread emergencies.