France wildfires force evacuation of over 20,000 people from tourist town

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that more than 20,000 residents and holidaymakers were evacuated in southwest France as a major wildfire spread near the Atlantic coast west of Bordeaux. The blaze was being fought on Thursday by about 800 firefighters, supported by hundreds of gendarmes and soldiers, in an area roughly 50 kilometres from Bordeaux.

According to the report, the fire started on Wednesday in the village of Saumos and moved toward Lege-Cap-Ferret, a well-known tourist area with dunes, cycling routes and oyster shacks. Firefighting aircraft have been dropping water, and the European Union sent three water-bombing planes after France requested assistance. Officials and residents said the fire appeared to have been sparked by a brush-clearing machine.

Firefighters said the flames had burned about 3,400 hectares, or 8,500 acres, of dense pine forest. Three homes were damaged and a caravan was destroyed, but no casualties had been reported in the Al Jazeera account. Lege-Cap-Ferret Mayor Philippe de Gonneville said conditions were difficult, with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and shifting, strong winds.

The fire comes during a severe summer in France and across Europe, where repeated heatwaves have worsened drought and left vegetation highly flammable. Al Jazeera noted that two firefighters died this week battling another blaze near Bordeaux airport, and that firefighter unions have raised concerns about limited resources and exhausted crews.