PARIS — About 1,400 firefighters had been deployed on Saturday in France’s southern Aude area to stop the nation’s largest wildfire in decades from reigniting, as all residents had been allowed to return to their properties.
Aude prefect Christian Pouget stated the fireplace has been contained since Thursday after burning this week greater than 160 sq. kilometers (62 sq. miles) within the wooded area, recognized for its wineries. All roads have been reopened however authorities issued a strict ban on accessing the forest, Pouget stated at a information convention on Saturday.
“The struggle is constant, firefighters are nonetheless engaged on (hearth) re-ignition,” he stated.
The blaze left one individual lifeless and 25 individuals have been injured, together with 19 firefighters, Pouget stated.
Excessive temperatures within the coming days are anticipated to complicate firefighters’ efforts.
“The fireplace gained’t be extinguished for a number of weeks,” Col. Christophe Magny, director of Aude firefighters division, stated, pointing to a number of “sizzling spots” which are being carefully monitored.
France’s nationwide climate company Meteo France positioned the southern half of France beneath “excessive vigilance” alert for warmth wave, with temperatures anticipated within the Aude area of as much as 39 levels Celsius (102 levels Fahrenheit) on Saturday.
Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer time. Scientists warn that local weather change is exacerbating the frequency and depth of warmth and dryness, making the area extra weak to wildfires.