Evacuations lifted in southern France; fire risk still high

BORMES-LES-MIMOSAS, France — More than 12,000 evacuated residents and tourists in the south of France were told they could return to their homes and holiday places after firefighters tamed one of the fiercest blazes to break out during four days of wildfires.

The fire in the Mediterranean seaside town of Bormes-lesMimosas in the southern Var region calmed Thursday because of a drop in the wind _ but still marked the skyline with clouds of black smoke that were visible for miles. Local authorities said that while it was safe for people to return to places they’d evacuated in the Bormesles-Mimosas area, the fire risk remained at its highest level in other parts of the Var region.