Wildfire evacuations lifted

More than 12,000 people, including many tourists, who were evacuated due to wildfires in southeast France are today returning to their homes, hotels and guest houses.

A drop in wind on Thursday meant that the blaze in the Var seaside town of Bormes-les-Mimosas slowed to a halt, allowing firefighters to get it under control.

Authorities said that while it was safe for most people to return to places they had evacuated after spending the night in makeshift shelters, the fire risk remained at its highest level in other parts of the department. Two campsites remain closed for safety reasons, Franceinfo reports.

In some cases, evacuees slept on beaches.

There are still fears tinder-dry conditions and forecasts for building winds mean new fires and flare-ups could occur. Firefighters are still battling wildfires in Artigues, some 100km from Bormes-les-Mimosas.

The Artigues fire is now said to have stabilised, but is not completely under control, firefighters have said. A total 480 firefighters are still working to fight the flames.

Some 3,000 firefighters have been deployed to contain fires that broke out earlier this week in the southeast and on the island of Corsica. The fires have so far turned an estimated 7,200 hectares of land to ashes in just four days. There have been no reported casualties.

Meanwhile, three people were due in court on Friday charged with offences related to wildfires in Bouches-du-Rhône. Investigators in the department have said that at least 25% of blazes were started maliciously.