Paris, Aug. 1 -- France remains on high wildfire alert after blazes scorched 119,000 hectares of forests and vegetation since the start of the year, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Saturday, describing the 2026 fire season as "exceptional."Addressing a press briefing, Nunez said authorities had recorded 14,320 wildfires and fire outbreaks since January, including 25 major fires that required extensive firefighting operations on Friday alone.
"Since the beginning of the year, we have now reached 119,000 hectares burned by forest and vegetation fires, which clearly shows the exceptional nature of this year's wildfire season," he said.
Firefighters on Saturday managed to contain a massive wildfire within its perimeter in southwestern...