France wildfire crews face searing heat in battle to contain flames
Firefighters in France's Gironde region are struggling to contain massive wildfires amid record-breaking temperatures of 40C. The dry conditions and pine-covered terrain have caused the fires to spread rapidly, forcing mass evacuations.
Why it matters
Increasingly frequent and severe wildfires highlight the escalating impact of climate change on European landscapes and public safety.
Figure caption, Planes dump water on French wildfires as temperatures rise
The aerial cavalry of three Canadair aircraft flying overhead look as impressive as they sound.
They arrive in formation, before sharply banking over towards the thick plume of black smoke ahead of us.
Their individual payloads of more than 1,000 gallons of water are then dumped onto the flames below.
A succession of helicopters then follows with their own streams of red fire retardant.
Image source, EPA Image caption, A Canadair aircraft dropping water across a burning fire
As the smoke eases, firefighters then move into the forest on foot to try and contain the latest flare-up.
They are the principal concern for the thousands of crews and volunteers combating the wildfires that have raged here for a week, forcing tens of thousands of residents and tourists to flee.
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