France, Aug. 7 -- French firefighters continue to battle the spread of a wildfire in the south of the country that has left one person dead and burnt 17,000 hectares since Tuesday. It's the country's biggest blaze since 1949, according to the Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

The fire began late on Tuesday in the village of Ribaute in the southern Aude department, a rural, wooded area that is home to several wineries.

Some 2,000 firefighters were mobilised to control the blaze, with the aid of 500 trucks, four Canadair planes and helicopters equipped to drop water.

"The fire is still very active and the situation remains unfavourable," said Lucie Roesch, secretary-general of the Aude prefecture, citing drought...