A massive wildfire in the Aude region of southern France, described as the largest in the country since 1949, has burned approximately 17,000 hectares of vegetation, an area larger than Paris. The fire, which began on August 5, 2025, has affected 15 communes, destroyed or damaged 36 houses, 18 hangars, 3 chalets, and over 50 vehicles. It caused the death of one woman, left one person missing, and resulted in nine injuries, including two severe cases. The blaze forced the closure of the A9 highway near the France-Spain border and left up to 2,500 households without electricity at its peak, with power gradually being restored. Nearly 2,000 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft including Canadairs and Dash planes, along with military engineers and local authorities, have been engaged in firefighting efforts. Despite the fire being declared "fixed" by the prefecture on August 7, the situation remains precarious due to extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures nearing 40°C and strong winds, which have caused multiple flare-ups. Authorities warn the fire will not be fully controlled until at least Sunday, August 10, and will take several more days to be extinguished completely. The disaster has caused severe economic damage, notably to the local viticulture, with reports indicating that up to 80% of the vineyards in affected areas like Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse have been destroyed. French Prime Minister François Bayrou and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau visited the affected zone, with Bayrou calling the event a "disaster of unprecedented scale" linked to climate change. Local officials and residents have expressed deep distress over the destruction and the long recovery ahead. Firefighters continue to monitor and extinguish hotspots to prevent reignition, while residents gradually return to their homes under continued vigilance.