France’s interior minister announced Monday that a massive wildfire in the country’s southwest has stopped growing after forcing 220,000 people to evacuate their homes. However, he cautioned that the blaze is not yet fully under control.
The fire has been raging in the Gironde department, a region known for its pine forests and tourist beaches. President Emmanuel Macron held a crisis meeting Monday to coordinate the firefighting effort, which also addresses wildfires elsewhere in the country.
While containment remains the immediate priority, officials are already looking ahead to the long-term recovery. The government estimates that replanting damaged forests and rebuilding infrastructure could cost between 5,000 and 10,000 euros per hectare. The local economy, which relies heavily on tourism and forestry, faces a significant financial burden.
Firefighters continue to work around the clock to prevent the fire from flaring up again. Authorities have not yet announced when evacuated residents may return home. The interior minister stressed that the situation remains dangerous and that all safety measures stay in place.
The wildfire is one of several that have hit France this summer, amid a severe drought and record heatwaves. Climate experts link the increasing intensity of such fires to global warming.