Southeast France, 900 firefighters are battling a large fire
A major wildfire broke out Friday in the southeast region of France, forcing the residents of several adjacent villages to evacuate their homes. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft, fought the blaze.
Bordezac, the village where the fire began, has seen thirteen of its firefighting personnel taken to the hospital with injuries. According to France Info, a total of 18 firemen have been hurt due to the forest fires that have been burning for several days in the region.
Around 100 people had to be put up for the night in the hamlet of Bordezac and other tiny settlements in the Besseges area on Thursday evening, according to the local prefect’s office.
Twelve firefighting planes and two helicopters were also dispatched to help put out the flames.
The fire department in the Gard region reported that the outlook was “more optimistic” on Friday, despite the fact that unfavorable meteorological conditions such as drought, heat, and strong winds are making it more difficult to contain the fire.
Several other flames of a lesser severity have been put out.
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According to the service, more than 1,500 acres (620 hectares) have been consumed by the fire thus far. During the time when more than 900 firefighters and two planes were battling the flames, nearby villages were forced to evacuate.
A spokesman for the local fire service told AFP that the operation “is continuing, but the fire is advancing more slowly and, fortunately, is no longer threatening any homes.” He added that many fire fronts remained “inaccessible.”
Highways were also shut down. According to a top official in the adjacent province of Bouches-du-Rhone named Laurent Joseph, who spoke with BFM TV, the authorities anticipate that they will have to deal with the fire “for several days.”
The Cévennes, a mountainous region that encompasses a considerable portion of southeast France and is partially safeguarded as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is in danger from the fire that is now burning in the area.
On Friday, the national meteorological office of France placed numerous nearby areas on red alert for the risk of fires, and the French Ministry of the Environment cautioned residents of the site to pay close attention to the dangers of fires.
