Paris, August 02, 2026 – The Europe Today: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that the devastating wildfires that swept across parts of France are now under control, marking a significant milestone after more than a week of intense firefighting operations and mass evacuations.
Speaking in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, Lecornu said the overall wildfire situation in France had stabilized, particularly in the southwestern Gironde region, where authorities have regained control of the country’s largest wildfire in decades.
“Overall, the fires are now under control in our country,” the Prime Minister said, adding that authorities have returned to “a more stable situation” in Gironde.
The massive blaze forced the evacuation of approximately 220,000 people, making it one of the largest peacetime evacuations in France’s history. As conditions improved, nearly 198,000 residents were permitted to return to their homes after firefighters successfully contained the fire within its perimeter.
The wildfire, which burned more than 42,000 hectares of mainly pine forest in southwestern France, was fueled by prolonged drought, extreme heat, and strong winds. Thousands of firefighters, supported by international assistance, worked tirelessly to prevent the flames from spreading further and threatening additional communities.
Despite the encouraging progress, French authorities cautioned that the risk has not been completely eliminated. Smaller fires continue to burn in some regions, including parts of southern France, where changing weather conditions and strong winds remain a concern. Firefighters are maintaining a high level of vigilance to prevent flare-ups.
The wildfire crisis has highlighted the growing impact of climate change across Europe, with prolonged heatwaves and increasingly dry conditions contributing to more frequent and intense wildfires. While the situation in France has improved, emergency services continue to monitor developments closely as wildfire threats shift to other parts of southern Europe, including Greece.
French authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting affected communities during the recovery process while continuing efforts to strengthen wildfire prevention, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience in the face of increasingly severe environmental challenges.
