PARIS (AP) — About 1,400 firefighters have been deployed on Saturday in France’s southern Aude area to stop the nation’s largest wildfire in many years from reigniting, as all residents have been allowed to return to their houses.
Aude prefect Christian Pouget mentioned the fireplace has been contained since Thursday after burning this week greater than 160 sq. kilometers (62 sq. miles) within the wooded area, identified for its wineries. All roads have been reopened however authorities issued a strict ban on accessing the forest, Pouget mentioned at a information convention on Saturday.
“The struggle is constant, firefighters are nonetheless engaged on (fireplace) re-ignition,” he mentioned.
The blaze left one particular person useless and 25 folks have been injured, together with 19 firefighters, Pouget mentioned.
Excessive temperatures within the coming days are anticipated to complicate firefighters’ efforts.
“The hearth gained’t be extinguished for a number of weeks,” Col. Christophe Magny, director of Aude firefighters division, mentioned, pointing to a number of “sizzling spots” which might be being intently monitored.
France’s nationwide climate company Meteo France positioned the southern half of France underneath “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 a number of giant fires this summer season. Scientists warn that local weather change is exacerbating the frequency and depth of warmth and dryness, making the area extra weak to wildfires.
