1,700-hectare wildfire in Var, France triggers evacuations
The blaze cut power to 2,300 households, damaged six homes and prompted deployment of about 900 firefighters.
A wildfire in the Var department of southeastern France burned about 1,700 hectares of land and forced hundreds of people to evacuate. The local prefecture said power was cut to 2,300 households, mainly in Cotignac. The fire also damaged six homes, two of them destroyed completely, as the flames moved toward Correns, Cotignac and Montfort-sur-Argens.
About 400 people were evacuated from Ponteves, Cotignac, Sillans-la-Cascade, Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens. Authorities deployed about 900 firefighters, 350 vehicles, 12 aircraft, four helicopters and members of the gendarmerie to contain the spread. As of Tuesday night local time, no deaths had been reported. The fire came as France was hit by an extreme heat wave, with temperatures in several areas nearing or exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.