84,000 French Wildfire Evacuees Get Green Light to Go Home

After a week of watching wildfires consume an area four times the size of Paris, 84,000 French residents just got the news they've been waiting for: it's safe to come home.

French authorities announced Thursday that evacuees from nine communes in the southwest Gironde region can finally return to their homes. The decision marks the strongest sign yet that firefighters are winning their battle against flames that have scorched 42,000 hectares since last week.

More than 220,000 people fled their homes and holiday accommodations when the massive blaze broke out. Families spent nights in emergency shelters like the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre, wondering if their homes would survive.

Mother Nature arrived just in time to help. Cooler Atlantic air brought humidity levels to 80 percent overnight, while temperatures dropped from a scorching 40°C to a comfortable 27°C along the coast. Light rain moved into the fire zone, giving exhausted firefighting crews their first real advantage.

Local officials reported a "rather calm" night for the first time in days. The fire hasn't grown beyond its current footprint, allowing 2,200 firefighters and more than 20 aircraft to focus on containment rather than defense.

The Bright Side

The improving conditions spread hope across southern Europe. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lifted the national emergency for wildfires near Madrid and Avila, with officials reporting "almost no flames" remaining. Spanish authorities say only about 1,000 evacuees still can't return home, down from tens of thousands.

Even in areas still battling active fires, progress is visible. Turkey brought 110 of its 115 active fires completely under control, despite new blazes igniting along popular tourist routes. Firefighters continue working around the clock in Antalya and other Mediterranean coastal areas.

The weather shift couldn't have come at a better moment. Météo France forecasters expect the cooler, more humid conditions to hold, giving crews the breathing room they need to fully extinguish remaining hotspots before temperatures rise again.

Firefighters remain at "total mobilization," but they're finally fighting from a position of strength rather than desperation.