Firefighters battle to prevent reignition of France’s largest wildfire as residents return home – Washington Examiner
About 1,400 firefighters are working in France’s southern Aude region to prevent the reignition of the country’s largest wildfire in decades. The fire,which has burned over 62 square miles of wooded land known for its wineries,has been contained as Thursday,allowing all residents to return home. While roads have reopened, access to the forest remains strictly prohibited. The wildfire caused one death and injured 25 people, including 19 firefighters. Ongoing high temperatures, with forecasts up to 102°F, pose challenges to containment efforts, and several hot spots continue to be monitored. Officials expect the fire will take several weeks to fully extinguish. Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such wildfires in southern Europe.
Firefighters battle to prevent reignition of France’s largest wildfire as residents return home
PARIS (AP) — About 1,400 firefighters were deployed on Saturday in France‘s southern Aude region to prevent the country’s largest wildfire in decades from reigniting, as all residents were allowed to return to their homes.
Aude prefect Christian Pouget said the fire has been contained since Thursday after burning this week more than 62 square miles in the wooded region, known for its wineries. All roads have been reopened, but authorities issued a strict ban on accessing the forest, Pouget said at a news conference on Saturday.
“The fight is continuing, firefighters are still working on [fire] reignition,” he said.
The blaze left one person dead and 25 people have been injured, including 19 firefighters, Pouget said.
High temperatures in the coming days are expected to complicate firefighters’ efforts.
“The fire won’t be extinguished for several weeks,” said Col. Christophe Magny, director of Aude firefighters department, pointing to several “hot spots” that are being closely monitored.
France’s national weather agency Meteo France placed the southern half of France under “high vigilance” alert for heat wave, with temperatures expected in the Aude region of up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday.
Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
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