Over half of evacuees return home after Bordeaux wildfire

Over half of the 220,000 residents who were evacuated from France’s southwest after a massive wildfire erupted west of Bordeaux have been permitted to return to their homes, officials said on Tuesday. The blaze, which began in early July, has scorched an estimated 42,000 hectares of forest and scrubland, destroyed more than 200 houses and claimed the lives of two firefighters engaged in the suppression effort.

French fire crews continue to battle the fire, which remains active in several sectors despite the partial lift of evacuation orders. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as residents assess damage and begin rebuilding, while FRANCE 24 correspondent Carys Garland reported from the ground on the ongoing response and the challenges faced by emergency services. The government has pledged additional resources to support recovery and to prevent further spread of the wildfire.