Southern France Ablaze
Wildfires Ravage Southern France, Scorching Over 1,200 Hectares Amid Intense Heatwave
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Key Points
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In the Aude department, the largest wildfire burned about 900 hectares, with roughly 800 firefighters on scene working to contain it amid high winds.
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A smaller blaze in Rognac, near Marseille's airport, had been tamped down as firefighters tackled multiple fires in the region.
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Another fire in Lancon-Provence covered about 260 hectares and was brought under control.
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In Frejus, more than 2,000 people were evacuated from six campsites due to the nearby forest fire.
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An acrid smell of smoke was reported across the region, including near Marseille airport, with pilots reassuring travelers the smell did not originate from their aircraft.
Wildfires are tearing through southern France, scorching a combined 1,210 hectares as strong winds and bone-dry vegetation fuel multiple blazes across the region, according to Dev Discourse. The fires broke out in the wake of a continent-wide heatwave, hitting two to three weeks earlier than the typical fire season, Yahoo News reported.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed at least three major blazes are active, with hundreds of firefighters stretched thin across the south, Yahoo News reported. Officials are now warning that a second heatwave could return next week, keeping conditions dangerous.
800 Firefighters Tackle the Aude Region's Largest Blaze
The biggest fire is burning in the Aude and Herault departments in southern France. It has already consumed over 900 hectares — roughly 2,200 acres — of land, according to WRAL. Around 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles have been deployed to fight it. High winds are making containment extremely difficult.
A second fire near Rognac, close to Marseille's airport, was brought under control after a fierce effort by crews. A third blaze in Lancon-Provence covered about 260 hectares before firefighters managed to contain it, WRAL reported. The overall situation remains volatile as weather conditions stay unfavorable.
2,000 Evacuated as Smoke Drifts Over Marseille Airport
In the coastal town of Frejus, more than 2,000 people were forced to leave six campsites as a nearby forest fire closed in, according to Head Topics. The evacuations were carried out quickly to prevent casualties as flames approached.
An acrid smell of smoke spread across the wider Marseille region, reaching the city's busy airport. Pilots on arriving flights told passengers the smell did not come from their aircraft, Dev Discourse reported. Airport advisories were issued to warn travelers of the smoky conditions outside.
Heatwave Linked to 1,000 Excess Deaths Across Europe
The fires follow a brutal heatwave that swept across Europe and has been tied to roughly 1,000 excess deaths, according to Yahoo News. Dry vegetation left behind by the heat has acted as ready fuel for the blazes now raging across France's south.
The World Health Organization warned that Europe's extreme heat is a potential "dress rehearsal" for future summers. Since the start of the year, around 7,000 fires have already occurred across the region — a grim sign of a longer, more dangerous fire season driven by climate change, Yahoo News reported.
Second Heatwave Could Return Next Week, Raising Fire Risk
French authorities are watching the forecast closely. Officials warn that another heatwave could arrive as soon as next week, according to Head Topics. If temperatures spike again, fire crews already stretched across multiple fronts will face an even harder fight.
About 2,000 firefighters are currently deployed along France's Mediterranean coast, Head Topics reported. With parched land, high winds, and more heat potentially on the way, conditions are set to remain critical for days ahead.
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