Tens of thousands of French wildfire evacuees allowed to return home as cooler weather moves in

French authorities authorized the return of 84,000 residents to their homes in southwest France on Thursday. The evacuees had been displaced by a large-scale wildfire, and the lifting of evacuation orders signals that firefighters have made significant progress in containing the blaze as cooler weather moves into the region.

Simultaneously, a separate, uncontrolled wildfire is burning in southern Rethymno on the island of Crete, Greece. That fire, which began Wednesday near Krya Vrysi in the municipality of Agios Vasileios, has resulted in the destruction of homes, farmland, and livestock. Hundreds of firefighters are currently working to suppress the flames, which are being fueled by strong winds.