France douses largest wildfire in over seven decades after three-week battle

A massive forest fire that ravaged approximately 17,000 hectares in southern France has finally been brought under control and extinguished, marking the largest such incident in the country since 1949.

The regional prefecture confirmed the containment of the blaze, attributing the success to the concerted efforts of firefighters and emergency personnel who tirelessly battled the fire and monitored the affected forest areas, Caliber.Az reports.

#Incendie des Corbières | Le feu est désormais éteint

Grâce à la mobilisation constante des sapeurs-pompiers et de tous les acteurs impliqués dans la lutte contre les incendies et la surveillance des massifs sinistrés, le feu de forêt qui a parcouru 17 000 hectares dans les… pic.twitter.com/CK7WoGQ2y8

— Préfet de l'Aude🇫🇷 (@Prefet11) August 28, 2025

The fire’s suppression was a result of coordinated operations involving extensive resources.

“The forest fire, which spread across 17,000 hectares, has been extinguished thanks to the efforts of firefighters and other staff engaged in fire suppression and overseeing the damaged forest areas,” the prefecture’s statement detailed.

The wildfire persisted for more than three weeks, during which over 2,000 firefighting professionals were mobilized to contain the flames, safeguard surrounding communities, and prevent further environmental destruction.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau characterized the blaze as the most severe forest fire France has faced in the past 76 years, underscoring the scale and intensity of the event.

By Vafa Guliyeva