French firefighters battle blazes with military cargo planes
Unchecked wildfires in France have displaced over 300,000 people, and firefighters are using a converted A400M military cargo aircraft to drop retardant on the advancing flames.
Fire crews in France are battling uncontrolled wildfires that forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes. On Sunday, the firefighters were overwhelmed as the unpredictable blazes continued to advance. The fires are spreading rapidly and without pattern, making containment efforts extremely difficult.
In an effort to halt the spread of the flames, a giant A400M military cargo aircraft has been converted for firefighting in southwest France. The plane, originally designed for transporting troops and equipment, now serves as an airborne firefighting tool. Flying low over dry, fire-threatened woodlands, the A400M releases a long plume of ochre-colored fire retardant.
FRANCE 24's Charlotte Hughes reports on the techniques being employed by French firefighters to combat the devastating wildfires.
