Wildfire in France's Landes forces 525 people to flee
A major wildfire in the Landes region of south-western France has forced 525 people to evacuate, with more than 1,100 hectares burned. No homes were destroyed, but authorities warned winds could worsen the situation.
A severe forest fire has broken out in the Landes region of south-western France, forcing 525 people to flee their homes. The blaze ignited just before 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, 13 August, fuelled by strong and shifting winds that brought flames within a few hundred metres of houses in the commune of Luglon.
According to the Landes prefecture, more than 1,100 hectares had already been consumed by Friday morning. Although no residential buildings were destroyed, local residents and guests at a nearby campsite were evacuated as a precautionary measure and taken to a reception centre in Sabres. Two departmental roads around Luglon were closed to traffic.
Efforts to tame the fire involved around 500 firefighters, 40 forest-fire vehicles and a fleet of aircraft, including Canadairs, Dash water-bombers and Air Tractors. Overnight, rising humidity helped slow the spread of the flames. However, local authorities warned that stronger winds could quickly make the situation worse again.
The outbreak came during an intense heatwave, with temperatures above 40°C recorded in parts of the Landes. It is the latest in a series of major fires in the region this summer, including a blaze near Biscarrosse which burned roughly 3,700 hectares and destroyed about 200 homes and buildings.
