# Risk of new wildfires in southwestern France as heatwave persists Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-12 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: High Risk of New Fires in France: Weather Worsens Drought Meta Description: Officials warn of high risk of new fires in southwestern France due to high temperatures and worsening drought, with firefighters from across Europe aiding in URL: https://financedigest.com/risk-of-new-wildfires-in-southwestern-france-as-heatwave-persistshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-12t093247z1lynxmpei7b0cfrtroptp4europe-weather-france-wildfire-1736815480886-compressed.jpg) By Stephane Mahe and Manuel Ausloos SAINT-MAGNE, France (Reuters) – High temperatures and a worsening drought brought a high risk of new fires breaking out in southwestern France, officials said on Friday, even after an overnight reprieve held a monster wildfire that has been raging for days in check. Firefighters from Germany, Romania and Greece were on the ground to help France battle the fire in the Gironde region – home to Bordeaux wine – as well as on other fronts, including in Brittany in the northwest, and more from across Europe were on their way. The [risk of new fires](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-smoldering-iran-nuclear-crisis-risks-catching-fire.html "Analysis-Smoldering Iran nuclear crisis risks catching fire") is “very severe” considering the weather conditions, the Gironde prefecture said. The day is likely to be complicated since [temperatures continue to increase and humidity continues to drop](https://www.financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drop.html "Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop"), so obviously we remain vigilant and mobilised,” senior local official Ronan Leaustic told a news conference. Temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) were expected in the southwest, with high temperatures also expected across much of France, France’s official weather forecast Meteo France said. The heatwave – officially France’s third this summer – was [set to ebb on Saturday and end](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-set-to-end-turbulent-2022-modestly-higher.html "Oil set to end turbulent 2022 modestly higher") on Sunday with storms, it said. Some 7,400 hectares (18,000 acres)of forests have gone up in flames in Gironde, and 10,000 [people have been evacuated](https://www.financedigest.com/the-man-who-evacuated-200-people-from-mariupol-in-a-battered-red-van.html "The man who evacuated 200 people from Mariupol in a battered red van"). Wildfires have broken out across Europe this summer as successive heatwaves bake the continent and renew the focus on [climate change risks](https://www.financedigest.com/institutional-investors-back-shell-board-lawsuit-over-climate-risk.html "Institutional investors back Shell board lawsuit over climate risk") to industry and livelihoods. A huge wildfire raged throughout the night and into its seventh day on Friday in central Portugal, where more than 1,600 firefighters backed by nine waterbombing aircraft were combating the blaze that has destroyed about 15% of the Serra da Estrela [national park](https://www.financedigest.com/belaruss-high-tech-park-announces-second-phase-legal-framework-cryptocurrency-industry-bid-become-leading-crypto-nation.html "Belarus’s High Tech Park Announces Second Phase Of Legal Framework For Cryptocurrency Industry In Bid To Become Leading Crypto Nation"). After starting in the Covilha area on Saturday, the fire has spread to several neighbouring councils, burning around 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) overall. Meanwhile, water levels on the river Rhine in Germany have fallen again, with some vessels no longer able to sail, shipping operators and brokers said. And British households were facing new water usage restrictions, with parts of [England likely to declare a drought as the government](https://www.financedigest.com/governments-and-central-banks-risk-inflation-bank-of-england-has-done-its-bit-now-the-politicians-turn.html "Governments and central banks risk inflation, Bank of England has done its bit, now the politicians’ turn"), environment officials and water companies meet to discuss the prolonged hot and dry weather. Politicians across the continent are [evaluating the impact](https://www.financedigest.com/equinor-evaluating-impact-of-british-windfall-tax-on-projects.html "Equinor evaluating impact of British windfall tax on projects"). “This fire season this year is far from over,” Pascal Martin, a centrist French senator and former firefighter told Europe 1 radio. Now though two [lessons have to be learned](https://www.financedigest.com/learning-the-lessons-of-the-bangladesh-bank-heist.html "LEARNING THE LESSONS OF THE BANGLADESH BANK HEIST"), which is that the fires are extending both geographically and over time, no longer only in the south, but in the entire country, even in the Jura and in Brittany, and no longer just in the summer months. (Reporting by Myriam Rivet, Manuel Ausloos, Stephane Mahe, Geert de Clercq, Farouq Suleiman, Andrei Khalip and Michael Hogan; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Alison Williams) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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