France’s local government on Thursday approved the return home of 84,000 residents who had been evacuated due to raging wildfires. The wildfires in France have affected an area four times the size of Paris. So far, 144,000 residents who were forced to evacuate have been allowed to go back to their homes.
This week marked the end of the fourth heatwave in France this year, replaced by cooler weather, higher humidity, and even some rain, which has aided firefighting efforts.
Places where evacuated residents are gradually returning include nine designated safe locations in the Bordeaux region in southwest France.
According to the Associated Press, among those allowed to return home is 50-year-old Sanachit Pho Ne Keo and his wife. They were relieved to find that their house in Martignas-sur-Jalle had not been damaged, aside from the black ashes on the outdoor terrace.
“Everything seems to be okay, it feels great!” he said. “The wildfire was very close to us, and there are still embers smoking. But the situation is better than we originally thought.”
Local health authorities recommend that returning residents wear gloves and masks when cleaning children’s toys, pet food bowls, and pet paws. A report from the French public health agency showed a sharp increase in asthma patients seen by emergency room doctors and hospitals in the Bordeaux region last weekend when wildfires raged, and thick smoke filled the air.
Sophie Brocas, the prefect of Gironde, has approved the return of two-thirds of the 224,000 evacuated residents, including 60,000 people granted permission on Tuesday to return to three suburban communities in Bordeaux. She said, “Everything is progressing in the right direction.”
The government has advised returning residents to keep their phones on and prepare their belongings in case of another evacuation.
The A63 highway south of Bordeaux has been reopened, which is a crucial route to Spain. August is the peak vacation period for the French, and the A63 highway is typically heavily used during this time.