Firefighters in France have contained the country's largest wildfire in decades, but authorities remain on high alert because of high heat that could reignite the flames.

Paris — A heat wave gripping parts of Europe sent temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in southern France and the Western Balkans on Monday, fueling wildfires, triggering top-level weather alerts and forcing evacuations in several countries across what scientists warn is the world’s fastest-warming continent.

One of the largest wildfires in France since 1949 continues to devastate the southern Aude prefecture, scorching 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) and leaving one dead, 19 firefighters injured, and six civilians hurt.