Star Metro - Firefighters bring huge blaze in France under control

The fire, which has ravaged a vast area of France's southern Aude department, killing one person and injuring several others, comes as parts of the Mediterranean region face a heatwave.

"The fire is now under control. This still requires continued mobilisation. We must hold on and not weaken," Amelie Trioux, chief of staff of the Aude prefect, told a press briefing.

Authorities said that hot, dry winds on Sunday -- similar to those on the day the blaze began -- and a heatwave would make the work of firefighters more difficult.

Some 1,300 firefighters were drafted in to stop the blaze from flaring up amid fears that winds blowing around 50 kilometres (30 miles) per hour could fan lingering hot spots. The blaze -- the largest in at least 50 years -- tore through 16,000 hectares of vegetation, disaster officials said.

Temperatures in the coming days are expected to hit 42C in some areas, according to national weather service Meteo France.

In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, a 65-year-old woman was found dead on Wednesday in her home, which was devastated by flames.

Authorities said one resident suffered serious burns and four others were lightly injured, while 19 firefighters were hurt, including one with a head injury.

Thirty-six houses were destroyed, others damaged, and more than 20 agricultural sheds burned.

-'Extremely angry'-

For livestock farmers in Fontjoncouse, the fire has ravaged grazing land and wiped out much of their flocks, fuelling outrage among those who said they did not have time to evacuate their animals.

Emmanuelle Bernier said she was "extremely angry" when she returned to a devastating scene, finding the pen that had housed her herd of goats in ruins, with 17 animals -- some close to giving birth -- lost in the fire.

"I will definitely change jobs. This will change my whole life," she said.

Bernier's property now holds only a few geese and two sick goats after she entrusted her surviving sheep to a local winegrower, as the farm was too damaged for them to stay.

But as she surveyed the scorched landscape, Bernier voiced some hope for the future.

"There's still a little life left," she said.

-'Hard to bear'-

Experts warn that European countries are becoming ever more vulnerable to such disasters due to intensifying summer heatwaves linked to global warming.

Residents of southern France said the high temperatures are becoming unbearable, especially for the most vulnerable, including the elderly or children.

"I've never experienced a heatwave as hard to bear as this year, said Monique Beluy, 81, in the southern city of Marseille, who worries about living alone.

I'm feeling less and less calm given my age and my health. I know I'm more vulnerable," she said.

The heatwave is forecast to peak between Monday and Tuesday, but high temperatures are likely to persist through the end of the week, according to Meteo France.

S.Cloutier--SMC