GIRONDE — French firefighters held the Gironde wildfire in check during a calm night, bringing flare-ups near coastal dunes under control. The burned area of the Gironde wildfire remained unchanged at 420 square kilometers (162 square miles).

Authorities described the Gironde fire as stabilized but not fixed, meaning it could still spread as temperatures rose and humidity fell. This classification indicates that while the immediate threat has been contained, the potential for reignition remains high under changing weather conditions.

The Gironde wildfire has forced 220,000 people to evacuate homes and vacation accommodation. French authorities ordered nearly 4,000 people evacuated from tourist sites on the Atlantic coast as a precautionary measure.

The precautionary evacuation order covered campsites, holiday villages, tourist residences and leisure parks around the resort of Lacanau. The evacuation order included Lacanau Ocean and both shores of Lacanau lake.

French authorities banned holiday camps for children and for people with disabilities in the Gironde region. Authorities are taking precautionary measures to protect vulnerable populations and tourists in the affected areas.

Firefighters and military engineers resumed work on tactical firebreaks early Tuesday to prevent the flames from spreading. Authorities stated that 103 kilometers (64 miles) of firebreaks had been completed to help contain the blaze.

Ninety-three firefighters have been injured while battling the Gironde blaze. The physical toll on emergency responders reflects the intensity and duration of the firefighting efforts in the region.

The Gironde wildfire destroyed 240 houses. The fire also created a rare pyrocumulonimbus cloud containing lightning, a phenomenon associated with extreme fire behavior.

The Gironde wildfire has burned an area four times the size of Paris. Gironde is French department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, established in 1790.

France's national weather service placed Gironde under a yellow heat warning from midday Tuesday. France's national weather service forecast inland temperatures of 33 to 35 C (91 to 95 F) in Gironde.

Southeast winds were expected across Gironde, with westerly sea breezes along the coast. These weather patterns contribute to the volatility of the fire lines and the difficulty of containment efforts.

The A63 highway remained partly closed due to the wildfires. Rail traffic south of Bordeaux was suspended except on the route toward Toulouse.

France's health agencies warned that air quality in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is degraded with fine particulate matter above limits. Residents in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region were told to keep doors and windows closed, cover vents with damp clothes, and turn off ventilation systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the Gironde fire is France's worst fire-related crisis since World War II. He urged fire crews to "stay strong" and vowed, "We will win this battle together."

"The weeks ahead will be hard. We must hold firm," French President Macron stated. He also warned, "The coming weeks will be tough and we have to hold out." French President he stated, "The fire is fixed, which is good news in the Landes." This statement provided a contrast to the ongoing fragility of the situation in Gironde.

Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for France's national firefighters federation, stated, "We are at a point of fragility. We will continue attacking this fire despite the forecast rise in temperatures." His comments reflected the continued risk despite the stabilization.

Wildfires in France and Spain have forced roughly 330,000 people to evacuate. Fires in Spain have affected an area of 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres).

Spain's state meteorological agency Aemet declared that a heatwave, the fourth of the summer, would begin on Wednesday and last until at least Sunday. This regional heatwave exacerbates the conditions for wildfire spread across both countries.

More than 116,000 hectares have burned across France so far this year. Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, contributing to the dry conditions favorable for wildfires.

Around a dozen countries have provided planes, helicopters, firefighters and other assistance to France and Spain. Authorities in Vieste opened temporary shelters for evacuated tourists.

Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service is web service for numerical weather predictions. PureSource News previously reported: National Weather Service Issues Heat Warnings for New York.

The stabilization of the Gironde wildfire at 420 square kilometers represents a critical but tentative victory for French firefighters. With 220,000 people evacuated in France and a total of roughly 330,000 displaced across France and Spain, the scale of disruption is significant. The description of the fire as "stabilized but not fixed" by authorities shows the ongoing risk as temperatures rise and humidity falls.

The involvement of international assistance from around a dozen countries and the declaration of a heatwave in Spain illustrate the cross-border nature of the crisis. The injury of 93 firefighters and the destruction of 240 houses in Gironde alone demonstrate the human and material cost. The forecast of inland temperatures reaching 33 to 35 C (91 to 95 F) and the yellow heat warning issued by France's national weather service indicate that the environmental conditions remain hazardous for containment efforts.