PARIS - Wildfires have scorched twice as much land in France so far this year as in the same period in 2025, an official said on July 10.The European nation is facing its third heatwave since May, with a part of western France under the more severe heat warning on July 10 and fires raging in several parts of the country over the past week.It is the latest such deadly episode of extreme weather, whose increasing frequency in recent decades scientists have linked to man-made climate change.“Since the beginning of the year, we have recorded a little over 8,000 fire outbreaks in our country, affecting an estimated burnt area of more than 25,000 hectares,” director-general of civil security Julien Marion said.That is equivalent to more than 35,700 football pitches.“That is roughly double what h