The fire in the French Gironde is no longer spreading, but there are still a number of active fires.

A massive wildfire in southwestern France has been brought under control after ten days of intense firefighting efforts, according to officials. The fire, which ravaged the Gironde department, is no longer spreading, though multiple hotspots remain active. Additional fires are being managed in the southeastern Var region, where the risk of new blazes remains high. Firefighters from Croatia have joined forces with French crews to combat the flames, marking one of the largest firefighting operations in modern French history. The blaze in Gironde began in early August and quickly escalated into one of the most severe wildfires in recent memory. Authorities confirmed that over 224,000 residents were evacuated at the height of the crisis, with approximately 208,000 of them now allowed to return home. An additional 10,750 evacuees were granted permission to return on Saturday morning, according to Prefect Sophie Brocas during a press conference. In the town of Andernos near the Arcachon Basin, many residents have already returned to their homes, although some areas remain temporarily uninhabited. In the Var department, nearly 600 kilometers east of Gironde, firefighters continue to battle a new forest fire that started on Friday. This blaze has consumed approximately 1,250 hectares in the Gros Bessillon massif. Officials warned that wind conditions, particularly the maestral breeze, could intensify in the afternoon, increasing the risk of further spread between 16:00 and 22:00 hours. Despite these challenges, authorities stated that both the Gironde and Var fires are currently under control. Croatian military pilots have played a crucial role in the firefighting effort. Captain Igor Mindoljević, commanding officer of the Croatian canadair unit, revealed that his team worked alongside French colleagues on Friday to extinguish a fire near the town of Pontevès, east of Marseille. He noted that the situation remained active and that they would likely return to the site soon. Since their deployment beginning on July 24, Croatian pilots have completed 198 flights, accumulating more than 33 hours of flight time and dropping 1,110 tons of water. Their involvement is part of the European Union’s RescEU mechanism for civil protection. Firefighting efforts have involved thousands of personnel, including around 3,300 firefighters from across France, along with military staff, police, gendarmes, foresters, farmers, and volunteers. According to the prefect of Gironde, this represents the largest firefighting operation in the modern era of civil security. Local communities have shown solidarity and gratitude toward the firefighters, with many returning to their towns and businesses gradually resuming normal operations. Authorities have recorded 240 destroyed homes so far in the Gironde fire, the most devastating since 1949. However, the exact number is still being finalized. There have been no fatalities or injuries among civilians, though over 330 firefighters have received medical assistance. Across France, wildfires have burned through 119,000 hectares of land this year, exacerbated by prolonged droughts worsened by climate change and recent heatwaves. As a result, 308 individuals have been arrested nationwide, with 33 currently in custody, while investigations continue. Local infrastructure is slowly recovering, with train services operated by SNCF restored south of Bordeaux following a suspension that began on July 26. Businesses in the Gironde and Landes regions are encouraging tourists to return to support local economies. Meanwhile, volunteers such as Xavier Picotto, a technician from Agen, have stepped forward to assist in rebuilding efforts, replacing wooden power poles with more fire-resistant concrete structures. Solidarity and community spirit remain strong in the affected areas as recovery continues.