Largest wildfire in decades controlled in southern France, causing death and widespread damage

A massive wildfire in southern France’s Aude department burned over 17,000 hectares, killing one person and injuring 13. While now under control, about 2,000 firefighters remain on duty. The fire destroyed homes, vehicles, and disrupted electricity for many residents. Access to affected forests is restricted until Sunday, and extreme heat forecasts have led to cancellations of several train services in the region.

Firefighters in France have successfully brought under control the largest wildfire to hit the southern part of the country in several decades, officials announced on Thursday evening. The massive blaze, which has been raging in the southern department of Aude, has consumed more than 17,000 hectares (equivalent to about 42,000 acres) of land. Tragically, the fire has resulted in the death of one individual and has caused injuries to 13 others.

Although the fire is now under control, approximately 2,000 firefighters remain actively engaged in containing and managing the situation. Christian Pouget, the prefect of Aude, emphasized that while the immediate threat has been mitigated, the fire will not be officially declared extinguished for several more days. He noted, “There is still a lot of work to be done,” highlighting the ongoing efforts required to fully secure the affected areas.

The wildfire originally ignited on Tuesday afternoon near the town of Ribaute and quickly spread across the department of Aude, affecting areas between the cities of Narbonne and Carcassonne. The rapid spread of the flames was fueled by dry conditions and high temperatures, which made containment efforts particularly challenging.

So far, the fire has destroyed 36 homes and damaged another 20 properties. In addition to residential losses, the blaze has burned 54 vehicles and impacted 16 local communities. As a consequence of the damage and ongoing fire management efforts, roughly 1,500 households were still without electricity as of Thursday evening.

In response to the severity of the wildfire and to ensure public safety, authorities have prohibited access to the forests affected by the fire until at least Sunday. This precautionary measure aims to prevent any further accidents and to allow firefighters to carry out their work unimpeded.

Adding to the challenge of controlling the fire, weather forecasts predict high temperatures ranging from 35 to 41 degrees Celsius (95 to 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit) over the upcoming weekend. These extreme heat conditions increase the risk of new fires and complicate ongoing firefighting efforts.

Due to the anticipated heatwave, the national railway operator SNCF has announced the cancellation of several Intercity train services across southern France. The company explained that older train carriages, which are still in use on some routes, may not be able to withstand the extreme heat, posing a risk of malfunction. As a result, train routes connecting Bordeaux and Marseille, Paris and Toulouse, and Clermont-Ferrand will be suspended during the peak heat hours to avoid potential safety issues.

The combination of the large-scale wildfire, infrastructure damage, and extreme weather has created a challenging situation for residents and emergency services alike. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge the public to stay informed and adhere to safety guidelines as recovery and containment efforts progress.