US EditionHundreds of firefighters battling wildfire in southern France amid improved weather conditions
MARTIGUES, BOUCHES-DU-RHONE, PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR, FRANCE, JUL 19 – Strong winds and dry conditions fueled the wildfire, threatening 120 homes and causing two firefighter injuries, with over 1,000 personnel deployed to contain the 240-hectare blaze.
- In Martigues, southern France, nearly 1,000 firefighters and helicopters battled the wildfire, burning 240 hectares on Friday.
- Officials said the fire started `quite violently` at 7.15pm Thursday, while regional emergency services warned of strong winds and high temperatures.
- Local officials said 120 homes were threatened, and 200 firefighters spent the night dousing embers.
- The local préfecture said the situation was improving due to rising humidity and wind shifts, and French President Emmanuel Macron voiced support for the crews.
- Fire managers and local officials hope to allow evacuees to return `as soon as it is safe`, and Météo France warned of a difficult summer with many areas on alert.
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Europe is battling high temperatures and forest fires this summer. Holidaymakers may experience the effects of tropical temperatures and endless traffic jams. Follow all the developments during the summer holidays in Europe via our live blog.
Hundreds of firefighters battling wildfire in southern France amid improved weather conditions
Nearly 1,000 firefighters and helicopters battled a wildfire about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of France's second-largest city Marseille on Friday, but officials said lower temperatures and increased humidity had improved the situation
After 24 hours of fighting and 250 hectares devoured by the flames, the fire in Martigues is now fixed. It is a tremendous relief for the inhabitants, especially since no house was hit. But how did the firefighters manage to save a whole neighborhood? - "If not there would be nothing more": the firefighters' strategy saved a whole district of Martigues (Police, justice and other facts) from flames.
The fire that devoured nearly 250 hectares of pine forest 40 km from Marseille is now contained.
A fire that has devoured nearly 250 hectares of pine forest since Thursday in Martigues, 40 km from Marseille in south-eastern France, is now set, but 300 firefighters remain mobilized to drown the last embers, the prefecture announced Friday night.
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