A lack of wind and lower temperatures overnight are expected to help the thousands of firefighters battling the 16,000-hectare blaze in southern France bring it under control, the fire brigade said on Thursday.
The blaze has already killed one person and injured several, local authorities said.
Fire brigades hope to bring the fire under control during the course of the day, Christophe Magny from the fire brigade told broadcaster BFMTV.
The fire, which broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the French region of Aude, is the most destructive in more than 75 years.
“Since 1949, this is undoubtedly the fire that has destroyed the most hectares of land,” said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Fifteen municipalities have been affected by the blaze. More than 2,100 firefighters are still fighting the flames, he said.
One elderly woman died when she refused to leave her home and several people have been injured. Three remain missing.
Ribaute, where the fire started, is located in the southern French region of Occitanie, roughly between Narbonne and Carcassonne. In the mountainous Corbières area, the fire spread rapidly due to drought and strong winds. The cause of the fire remains unclear.