VILLEROUGE LA CREMADE, France (AP) Firefighters and local authorities are on high alert following France's largest wildfire in decades, which has now been contained in the southern region of Aude. With forecasts predicting rising temperatures, there are concerns that the blaze could potentially reignite.
The wildfire, which erupted on a Tuesday, raged for three days and covered an area exceeding 160 square kilometers (approximately 62 square miles). Tragically, the fire has resulted in one fatality and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes in the Aude wine region. The authorities reported that the fire's perimeter reached up to 90 kilometers. Officials are urging vigilance as temperatures are expected to rise above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) during an upcoming heat wave.
Christian Pouget, the region administrator, noted that around 1,000 individuals are still unable to return home after the fire traversed 15 communes in the Corbières mountain region. The devastating blaze destroyed or damaged at least 36 homes. While one victim died in their home, at least 21 others sustained injuries, including 16 firefighters who bravely battled the flames. As of Friday morning, around 1,300 homes still lacked electricity due to significant damage to infrastructure, as reported by the Aude prefecture.
Authorities have warned residents not to return to their neighborhoods without proper authorization, as many roads remain blocked and perilous. Those who were forced to flee their homes are being housed in emergency shelters established across 17 municipalities. Beatrice Bertrand, the mayor of Tuchan, shared that they received over 200 evacuees from the nearby village of Durban-Corbières. The local community mobilized quickly, providing food and shelter to those displaced, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and villagers, who offered beds and accommodations despite the late hour.
Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the fire. This incident marks the largest wildfire documented since France's national fire database was established in 2006. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Minister for Ecological Transition, classified it as the worst wildfire in France since 1949 and attributed its severity to climate change.
Southern Europe has been plagued by multiple large wildfires this summer, with scientists warning that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and droughts, thereby heightening the region's vulnerability to such disasters. Just last month, a wildfire impacted the southern port city of Marseille, causing around 300 injuries.
According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising at twice the global average since the 1980s. This alarming trend underscores the pressing challenges faced by regions like southern France, as they grapple with the devastating effects of climate-related events.
