France's wildfire risk remains "extremely high" despite slight weather improvements, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday, July 30th, citing persistent drought and fast-spreading fires across the country. Although higher humidity and weaker winds have helped, authorities managed 26 fires nationwide on Wednesday alone, warning that vegetation remains highly combustible.

In southwestern France, a massive wildfire that devastated the region was no longer advancing, raising hopes the crisis was easing. The prefect of Gironde, the worst-hit French region, described Thursday as "the first somewhat optimistic day," with signs of returning to normal life and significant improvements, according to Sophie Brocas. Earlier that day, fire services expressed reasonable optimism that the blaze was no longer progressing. Over 60,000 people had been evacuated during the worst of the fire, but most were allowed to return home by Thursday.

Spain also saw progress as most of the tens of thousands evacuated from areas west of Madrid were cleared to return home following the lifting of the state of emergency. However, near Spain's border with Portugal, a new fire broke out on Wednesday in Fermoselle, forcing the evacuation of more than 600 people. Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported that all but five of 110 fires across the country were under control.

Elsewhere in Europe, firefighters remain engaged in battling major blazes in the UK, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. The unusual intensity of these fires highlights the increasing risks posed by climate change, which dries vegetation and intensifies such emergencies.

Notably, Hollywood star George Clooney and his wife Amal were among those who fled the wildfires in France and Spain.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed cautious optimism on BFMTV, stating, "We can assume that the worst is behind us with this totally unprecedented fire."

Sources