France in Flames

Wildfires in southern France have required thousands of firefighters to continuously fight the fires. Citizens and tourists have been safely evacuated, and surrounding roads have been closed off. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, has assured that the country will assist anyone who has been affected by these fires. He warns people to take high caution.

Due to rising temperatures and strong winds, officials expect the fire to keep burning for a few more days. It is believed to be the worst wildfire France has seen in the past 80 years. With the help of dozens of aircraft, around 2,000 firefighters are trying to contain the fire by dropping large amounts of water to douse the flames.

The fires started on Tuesday, August 5th, in the Aude region near the village of La Ribaute. The fire has already burned through more than 15,000 hectares (58 sq miles), which is an area bigger than Paris. In addition, officials said that the fire spreads quickly, due to strong winds and dry, hot summer weather. Trees and fields have turned to ashes due to these raging fires.

Around 2,500 houses located in the area have no electricity. People living up to 30km (18 miles) away can feel the effect of the burning fires. Scientists say that the Mediterranean’s hotter summers put the region at higher risk of wildfires. It raises concerns that more wildfires like these could happen in the future.

Citations:

“Firefighters in France Tackle Huge Wildfire.” BBC Newsround, 7 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cqjy7vl48k4o.