Overview

• The wildfire, ignited near Ribaute on August 5, charred 16,000 hectares in 24 hours, marking France’s largest blaze since systematic records began in 2006.
• A shift to cooler, more humid weather and a marine wind pattern have slowed the fire’s spread, giving crews a critical window to target active edges.
• National aerial assets, backed by 2,500 firefighters and 500 ground vehicles, are focused today on fixing the blaze’s perimeter with sustained water drops.
• Damage assessments show that 25 homes and 35 vehicles were destroyed or damaged, with one civilian fatality and 13 injuries among residents and firefighters.
• The Carcassonne prosecutor’s office is conducting an inquiry into the fire’s cause, with no hypothesis currently favored.