Firefighters have contained a massive wildfire in southern France but local officials warned on Sunday that scorching heat and dry conditions could reignite the blaze, as parts of the Mediterranean

Firefighting operations continued on Saturday in south-western France to ensure that the largest wildfire the country has experienced in decades does not flare up again, a fire brigade spokesman said.

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.

Burning over 100,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest, it has triggered evacuations and poses a long-term threat due to dry conditions, rugged terrain and a buildup of fire-prone vegetation.