Wildfire Near Bordeaux Stabilizes, but French Authorities Warn of Renewed Fire Risk

French firefighters have stabilized a massive wildfire in the Gironde department that has threatened the city of Bordeaux in recent days. According to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the fire did not spread overnight, although it is still too early to declare it fully contained. As reported by Reuters, emergency crews remain on round-the-clock alert as a new heatwave and stronger winds expected later this week could reignite the blaze. The fire broke out on July 22 in forests between the Atlantic coast and Bordeaux. At one point, the flames came within 15 kilometers of the city. Since the fire began, around 220,000 people, including residents, tourists and campers, have been evacuated. Authorities estimate that the blaze has already burned approximately 840 square kilometers (324 square miles), an area about four times the size of Paris. Thousands of firefighters, supported by dozens of firefighting aircraft and helicopters, as well as heavy engineering equipment, have been deployed to battle the blaze. Bulldozers have been clearing strips of forest to create firebreaks and slow the fire’s advance. Thick smoke was visible over central Bordeaux during the weekend. French President Emmanuel Macron chaired an emergency government meeting to review the wildfire situation and coordinate the country’s ongoing response.The post Wildfire Near Bordeaux Stabilizes, but French Authorities Warn of Renewed Fire Risk first appeared on All PYRENEES.