France’s largest fire in decades brought under control

Firefighters have brought under control the largest fire to hit southern France in decades, officials said on Thursday evening.

Over 2,000 firefighters and 200 police officers, supported by firefighting planes and helicopters, remained on duty to combat the blaze that swept through the Aude department between Narbonne and Carcassonne, the prefecture said.

The blaze started on Tuesday afternoon in Ribaute and raged across 16,000 hectares, killing one person and injuring 18, authorities said, citing initial information.

In the mountainous Corbières area, the fire spread rapidly due to drought and strong winds. The cause of the fire remains unclear.

Thirty-six homes were destroyed and 20 more damaged. The fire also burned 54 vehicles and affected 16 communities.

Some 1,500 households were still without electricity on Thursday evening.

Access to all forest areas in the mountainous region was prohibited until Sunday to prevent further fires.

According to French authorities, it was the most destructive fire in more than 75 years.

“Since 1949, this is undoubtedly the fire that has destroyed the most hectares of land,” said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau at the scene on Wednesday.

New heatwave to hit south

Meanwhile, weather agency Météo France has warned of a fresh heatwave starting Friday, forecasted to affect the country’s southern regions in particular and increasing the risk of further fires.

Temperatures are forecast to reach between 35 and 41 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

In response, national railway operator SNCF has cancelled multiple Intercity trains in southern France. The company said older train carriages used on some routes may not be able to withstand the extreme heat, risking breakdowns, according to radio station France Info.

Routes between Bordeaux and Marseille, Paris and Toulouse, and Clermont-Ferrand will be suspended during peak heat hours.