https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Although the huge wildfires in south-west France have been declared under control, fires have broken out over the weekend across the south of the country. With heatwave and wildfire warnings continuing, we take a look at different maps that can show you the situation across the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260708/maps-where-are-all-the-wildfires-and-warnings-in-france-right-now Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:00:02 +0200 maps-where-are-all-the-wildfires-and-warnings-in-france-right-now The photo has gone around the world as the defining image of French wildfires, and of the climate crisis - but who took it, where is it and what does it actually show? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260727/the-story-behind-the-viral-photo-of-french-wildfires Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:04:07 +0200 the-story-behind-the-viral-photo-of-french-wildfires Headlines in France in recent days have been dominated by a series of huge wildfires, with thousands of hectares burned, homes evacuated and others left without power. So is it still safe - and advisable - to holiday here? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260722/is-it-safe-to-come-to-france-in-wildfire-season Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:58:35 +0200 is-it-safe-to-come-to-france-in-wildfire-season The fires that have ravaged France are "under control," Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Saturday, more than a week after the country's largest wildfire since 1949 flared up. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260801/minister-says-frances-largest-wildfire-in-decades-under-control Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:25:43 +0200 minister-says-frances-largest-wildfire-in-decades-under-control Three wildfires that broke out within days of each other in Spain and France this month are among the 15 largest recorded in the European Union since 2016. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260801/three-of-eus-15-largest-wildfires-since-2016-occurred-in-july Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:06:16 +0200 three-of-eus-15-largest-wildfires-since-2016-occurred-in-july People in France's fire-hit southwest were "coming up for air", officials said Friday, after firefighters managed to stabilise a massive blaze that had burned for nine days. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260801/fire-hit-france-region-coming-up-for-air-as-main-blaze-calms Sat, 01 Aug 2026 10:33:07 +0200 fire-hit-france-region-coming-up-for-air-as-main-blaze-calms Will this summer's repeated fatal heatwaves and enormous wildfires cause French politicians to get serious about tackling climate change? Don't bet on it, says John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260729/opinion-french-politicians-are-failing-their-trial-by-wildfire Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:26:19 +0200 opinion-french-politicians-are-failing-their-trial-by-wildfire Whether you’re an individual or business in need of immediate aid or longer term assistance following the wildfires, here’s where you can turn for help. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260731/where-to-find-help-if-youre-affected-by-frances-wildfires Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:31:12 +0200 where-to-find-help-if-youre-affected-by-frances-wildfires Fire-ravaged south west France experienced its "first somewhat optimistic day" on Thursday since wildfires broke out more than a week ago, a top local official said. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260731/first-somewhat-optimistic-day-in-south-west-france-since-outbreak-of-fire Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:07:13 +0200 first-somewhat-optimistic-day-in-south-west-france-since-outbreak-of-fire As firefighters struggle to contain some of the worst European wildfires in living memory with reduced numbers of aerial water bombers, production of the iconic aircraft creaks along half a world away in a Canadian factory. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260730/why-europe-wont-get-any-new-canadair-water-bombers-any-time-soon Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:23:51 +0200 why-europe-wont-get-any-new-canadair-water-bombers-any-time-soon As wildfires continue to disrupt parts of south-west France during the height of the summer holidays, many travellers are wondering if they should cancel and, if so, whether they will get their money back. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260729/wildfires-in-france-will-your-travel-insurance-cover-cancelled-holidays Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:28:42 +0200 wildfires-in-france-will-your-travel-insurance-cover-cancelled-holidays While firefighters continue to battle the blazes in the south-west, people in France are likely to notice ongoing disruption linked to the fires, from road and rail closures to delays in deliveries. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260729/road-closures-deliveries-suspended-ongoing-disruption-from-french-wildfires Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:59:08 +0200 road-closures-deliveries-suspended-ongoing-disruption-from-french-wildfires The scent of cinder lingered in the air as Michael Elicegui sipped a coffee on a cafe terrasse after returning to his French village following a wildfire. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260729/not-out-of-danger-residents-return-to-scorched-french-village Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:02:10 +0200 not-out-of-danger-residents-return-to-scorched-french-village Firefighters battling the giant wildfires in south-west France have reported a 'calmer night', but Wednesday brings a return of scorching temperatures to the region. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260727/latest-bordeaux-wildfire-evacuation-plans-and-travel-warnings Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:07:15 +0200 latest-bordeaux-wildfire-evacuation-plans-and-travel-warnings Almost a quarter of France is now affected by smoke from the huge wildfires raging in the south of the country - so how dangerous is this and what steps can you take to protect yourself? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260728/what-can-you-do-to-protect-yourself-from-smoke-during-frances-wildfires Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:05:32 +0200 what-can-you-do-to-protect-yourself-from-smoke-during-frances-wildfires Deer trapped by walls of flame, lizards unable to escape the heat, habitats reduced to charred wood and ash: wildlife is paying a steep price as France's forests burn. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260728/wildlife-face-catastrophic-losses-as-frances-forests-burn Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:11:04 +0200 wildlife-face-catastrophic-losses-as-frances-forests-burn President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged firefighters battling a huge blaze in southwest France to keep up their strength for some gruelling weeks ahead. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260728/weeks-ahead-will-be-tough-macron-tells-firefighters-battling-wildfire-near-frances-bordeaux Tue, 28 Jul 2026 08:29:34 +0200 weeks-ahead-will-be-tough-macron-tells-firefighters-battling-wildfire-near-frances-bordeaux It's easy to feel powerless in the face of the ravaging wildfires that are taking place across France, but there are some ways you can help. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260727/donations-and-volunteering-how-can-you-help-during-wildfire-season-in-france Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:52:42 +0200 donations-and-volunteering-how-can-you-help-during-wildfire-season-in-france Shelters in France and Spain on Monday overflowed with exhausted locals and holidaymakers forced to flee blazes so massive some were forming their own mini weather systems, as authorities warned a new heatwave was set to descend on parts of the region. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260723/deadly-wildfires-force-thousands-from-homes-in-europe Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:40:41 +0200 deadly-wildfires-force-thousands-from-homes-in-europe The mayor of Bordeaux in southwest France said on Sunday authorities had no current plans to evacuate the population of the UNESCO-listed city due to raging forest fires but were "ready for anything." https://www.thelocal.fr/20260726/threatened-by-fire-bordeaux-mayor-says-city-is-ready-for-anything Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:49:37 +0200 threatened-by-fire-bordeaux-mayor-says-city-is-ready-for-anything