French authorities allowed 84,000 evacuees to return to their homes in southwest France after a massive wildfire forced them to leave. This decision marks significant progress in controlling the fire, which has burned an area four times the size of Paris.

The approval for returning home includes nine localities that were evacuated. Over 220,000 people had to flee since the previous week due to the fire. Volunteers actively helped firefighters combat the wildfire near Lanton, east of Arcachon Bay, west of Bordeaux.

Increased humidity, cooler temperatures, and slight rain improved the situation. Local officials reported a calm night, with the fire not spreading beyond the 162 square miles already affected. Firefighters remain fully engaged, with 2,200 personnel and over 20 aircraft.

Rain fell in Bordeaux early Thursday morning. Sophie Brocas, the prefect for the Gironde region, noted optimism that lower temperatures might assist in controlling the fire. She indicated a possible return to normal life for residents and businesses if conditions continue to improve.

Humidity levels reached 80% overnight but were expected to decrease by midday. Some rain was anticipated to potentially reach the fire-affected zones. The previous day’s temperatures peaked at 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) but were forecast to drop to 27 C (80 F) along the coast.

The fires in the Bordeaux region, known for its vineyards, forests, and tourism, are among several that have hit southern Europe, including Spain and Greece. On Thursday, multiple forest fires were reported in four of Turkey’s western provinces, with evacuations and extensive firefighting efforts.

In Greece, authorities reported the deaths of three firefighters on Crete, highlighting the severity of the wildfire crisis stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. At the peak, about one-third of a million people were evacuated in France and Spain.