Firefighters have been busy battling blazes in southern France as wildfires fueled by an intense heatwave continue to burn, with locals expressing their gratitude for the efforts of emergency workers as authorities count the potential cost of the damage caused.
Nearly 30 wildfires continued to burn across several regions of France on Monday, with officials warning that this year's fire season has already surpassed last year's in terms of the total land area destroyed.
In the Justin massif, a mountainous region in the Drome department of the Southern Alps, emergency services say a ferocious wildfire has finally been brought under control after weeks of battling the flames on the ground and by air.
However, firefighters remain deployed in the area with smoke still seen rising from several mountain areas as crews monitored flare-ups to prevent the fire from fully reigniting.
Some evacuated residents were allowed to return home on Monday, including viticulturist Anna Decorse from the nearby Barsac village, which had been encircled by flames the previous week.
"I'm very tired, and I find all the solidarity from all the farmers, the surrounding businesses, and even those who came from very far away, very moving. Volunteers also came to help with cooking, as did the officers who helped protect our village, and the firefighters. The firefighters and the military -- the work they do, they put themselves in danger for us, and that is incredible," she said.
The support for firefighters staying on duty remains strong elsewhere in the local community. In the town of Die, residents donated food and essential supplies, while a local gymnasium was turned into a 24-hour support center for firefighters, staffed by volunteers working in rotating shifts.
"We've just made 500 sandwiches for the firefighters. Some have already gone and another 150 will go out [to them] right now. This section here is all grocery items. People come to work even without signing up. They lend a hand, bring donated products and ask what's needed. We rotate the volunteers every two hours, so the support center stays open 24 days a day," said Jean-Luc Printemps, one of the volunteers, as he introduced some of the provisions set up in the hall.
The fire front alarmingly stopped less than one kilometer from the edge of the town, and though the situation no longer poses immediate danger, local authorities say the recovery process is likely to present a major long-term challenge.
Marylene Moucheron, the mayor of Die, voiced concerns over the economic toll the recent fire disruption will have caused, particularly on the vital tourism sector, with the town typically attracting visitors with its famous water features and natural scenery.
"There have been no human casualties or damage to homes. But it's true that, for us, our fountain is also our economic asset. It's what makes the Die area thrive, because we have such an important natural site that people come to see. So, it is a label for us. And then there is all the wildlife, all the flowers. The wildlife must have taken a hit too. There will be things to rebuild. Now we are going to move into a reconstruction phase. It will take time," she said.
The sheer scale of the impact of wildfires across France was highlighted by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who said on Monday that some 32,000 hectares of land has already been affected since the start of the year, exceeding the total area destroyed during the entire 2025 fire season.
Local residents commend firefighters after wildfires scorch southern France
