France has recorded approximately 14,000 fire outbreaks since the beginning of the season, and authorities have arrested 402 individuals suspected of causing the fires, either intentionally or due to negligence, announced the Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez.
According to the French official, among the arrested individuals, 156 are minors, and 36 have been placed in preventive detention, as reported by Anadolu.
Laurent Nunez stated that the vegetation fires in the departments of Gironde and Aude have been brought under control, but in the Var department, firefighters continue to battle the flames.
The Minister declared that the fire in Var is "the longest vegetation fire ever recorded" in this department, as it has been burning continuously for 15 days.
To extinguish the fire, 1,250 firefighters are still mobilized, supported by two Canadair planes and two helicopters specialized in water dropping.
At the same time, authorities have lowered the alert level for the Gironde department from red to orange, due to the improving situation.