Massive Wildfire Sweeps Through Southern France, 900 Hectares of Forest Reduced to Ash

Paris: The forest fire in southern France amidst the scorching heat and prolonged drought has made the situation extremely serious. The fire that broke out on Thursday in the Aude and Hérault regions has spread rapidly and engulfed about 900 hectares of forest area. To control the fire, relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a large scale.

How large an area has the fire spread?

The administration says that so far about 900 hectares of forest have been burnt in the fire. More than 800 firefighters, 150 fire engines and four water bomber aircraft are working day and night to stop the fire. Efforts are being made to extinguish the fire from both the ground and the sky.

What steps are being taken to extinguish the fire?

Local officials say that the fire is being constantly monitored to prevent it from spreading further. Firefighters are working simultaneously on multiple fronts to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible amid strong winds. Two other fires in neighbouring areas have been brought under control, but fires still burning at many places remain a matter of concern.

How serious have the forest fires in France been this year?

French Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu said that more than 7,000 incidents of forest fires have been recorded since the beginning of summer this year. About 8,700 hectares of land has been burnt to ashes in these incidents. He said that extreme heat, drought and adverse weather conditions are continuously increasing the danger of fire.

Have people been evacuated to safe places?

People were evacuated from camps near a resort after a forest fire spread around the Tate River in southern France. As a precaution, all lifeguard stations in the area have been closed and people have been appealed to not swim in the river.

What warning has the Meteorological Department issued?

The weather office has said there’s almost no chance of rain anytime soon. On top of that, it’s going to stay very hot and the drought isn’t letting up. With strong winds expected around the Mediterranean, there’s a real risk the fires could flare up again. That would make things even tougher for the rescue teams on the ground.