Southern France wildfire chars 2,550 hectares, drives 400 out

A fast-moving wildfire in southern France burned 2,550 hectares in the Var region, forced about 400 people to evacuate and left 2,300 households without power before firefighters brought it under control on July 22. Nearly 1,000 to 1,100 firefighters, backed by Canadair water bombers, helicopters and Dash aircraft, battled the blaze after it erupted near Ponteves and spread toward Cotignac, Sillans-la-Cascade, Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens. Authorities said four firefighters and two residents suffered minor smoke inhalation. Meteo-France warned of extreme forest-fire risk in the area, where repeated heatwaves and drought have pushed France into an earlier and more intense wildfire season.