France Re-opens Roads, Sends Evacuees Home as Wildfire Loses Momentum

French authorities have allowed around 144,000 residents to return to their homes after a devastating wildfire in the Gironde region of southwestern France was brought under control, marking a major breakthrough in one of the country's worst fire emergencies in recent years.

Officials said the blaze, which has burned nearly 42,000 hectares in an area roughly four times the size of Paris, is no longer spreading, although thousands of firefighters remain on the ground to extinguish hotspots and prevent fresh flare-ups. The easing of evacuation orders follows improved weather conditions, including cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and light rainfall, which have aided containment efforts.

The latest phase of the evacuation rollback covers 12 districts west and southwest of Bordeaux, adding to earlier returns earlier this week. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant, keep emergency bags packed, and follow official alerts in case conditions deteriorate.

More than 3,300 firefighters, supported by aircraft, helicopters, heavy machinery, and international teams, continue to battle lingering embers. Authorities have also reopened the A63 motorway, a crucial transport corridor linking Bordeaux with Spain, restoring a key route during France's peak summer holiday season. However, access to some areas, including the Cap Ferret peninsula, remains restricted due to ongoing safety concerns.

The wildfire has damaged several hundred homes and scorched vast stretches of forest. Officials are continuing to assess the full extent of the destruction while health authorities have urged returning residents to wear gloves and face masks during cleanup because of ash and smoke residue.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police have detained 308 people nationwide on suspicion of arson or negligent fire-starting, with more than 120 of those detained reported to be minors.

The Gironde wildfire is part of a broader wildfire crisis across Europe, where extreme heat and prolonged drought have fueled major blazes in Spain, Greece, Turkey, Germany, and the United Kingdom, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and stretching emergency services across the continent.