Firefighters on Saturday contained a massive wildfire in southwestern France that had forced the country's largest peacetime evacuation, allowing approximately 198,000 people to return to their homes. The fires, however, continued to rage in other parts of France and Greece, displacing thousands more.
In the Mediterranean Var region, a fire that was previously thought to be advancing had accelerated across 10 square kilometers (4 square miles) in just six hours on Friday, described by the prefecture as moving "faster than a horse at full gallop." This resurgence underscored the volatile nature of the ongoing wildfire crisis, where progress can be quickly reversed.
Across France and Spain, the peak of the fires had driven an estimated 330,000 people from their homes and vacation sites, straining firefighting resources, aircraft, and emergency services that were managing simultaneous crises.
Europe is experiencing rapid warming, with the continent heating at more than twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus climate service. This warming, coupled with prolonged drought, dries out vegetation, creating conditions for fires to spread faster and burn with greater intensity.
The Gironde fire in southwestern France has consumed 420 square kilometers (162 square miles) of pine forest west of Bordeaux. While firefighters stated it remained contained within its perimeter on Saturday, meaning the flames had not spread beyond its existing boundaries, it had not yet been declared "fixed." Active sectors and buried hot spots persisted, and authorities kept the Cap Ferret peninsula largely evacuated due to the risk of a nearby hot spot flaring up.
Lt. Col. Eric Pitault reported that crews utilized tactical burns overnight to consume vegetation ahead of active fire sectors, but about 240 kilometers (149 miles) of fire edges still required monitoring for buried heat. The ecological impact has been significant, with millions of animals reportedly affected by the fires.
In the Var, a fire that had been declared fixed earlier in the week reignited, consuming an additional 1,250 hectares in a matter of hours. While defensive lines held and no further ground burned, approximately 2,500 people remained evacuated, supported by 1,300 firefighters. The region faced continued heat warnings, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 39 C (102 F) in some areas.
Meanwhile, in Greece, hundreds of firefighters battled blazes near Porto Germeno, a coastal resort on the Gulf of Corinth. Gale-force winds drove flames through the area, prompting the evacuation of about 300 people by sea and further evacuation orders on Saturday. Wildfire meteorologist Theodore Giannaros described the damage as "inconceivable," estimating that 40 to 50 square kilometers (15 to 19 square miles) were affected. Homes were reported destroyed, though a complete count was not yet available. High winds hampered aerial operations, and conditions placed the Athens region and part of Evia at the highest wildfire alert level.