Exhausted crews battle wildfire as heat grips southwest France
Firefighters in southwest France are struggling to contain massive wildfires near Bordeaux amid record-breaking heat. The fires have caused the largest peacetime evacuations in French history, with crews facing physical exhaustion.
Why it matters
The scale of these wildfires highlights the increasing threat of climate-driven extreme weather events in Europe and the strain on emergency response infrastructure.
Smouldering hot spots in the forest floor repeatedly burst into flame as crews moved quickly from one to another. Firefighters from across France doused the flames, then poured bottled water over themselves during breaks beside trucks parked on the sun-baked pavement.
The flare-ups were part of the continuing fight against a major wildfire west of Bordeaux that had burned 240,000 hectares and forced 220,000 people to evacuate as of 3:30 p.m. local time Wednesday, according to the Gironde prefecture .
Wildfires in Bordeaux lead to largest peacetime evacuations in France’s history
France battles massive wildfire as heat wave threatens renewed spread
Water bombers emerged through the smoke above the trees, one after another for about an hour, dropping water along the forest edge while ground crews attacked hot spots below.
Inside France's battle to save Bordeaux from unprecedented wildfires
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