Firefighters in France are working around the clock to contain wildfires that have been raging in the Gironde region, while bracing for another sharp rise in temperatures.
"The fire is like David against Goliath," warned Eric Brocardi, spokesman for the national firefighters' federation, as four of his colleagues had died in recent weeks across France.
About 2,000 firefighters were deployed in Gironde to contain flames that have ravaged the countryside between the coastline and Bordeaux for days.
Officials cautioned that weather conditions were unfavourable, with a fourth heatwave expected to begin by Wednesday, bringing temperatures in the area to 40°C.
Bordeaux, home to 260,000 residents, is not yet under threat, but the western edge of the wildfire remains a concern for local commanders.
One wildfire on Monday was 15km from Bordeaux’s periphery, and the air quality has deteriorated dramatically in recent days, forcing many visitors to stay indoors.
Presidential visit by Emmanuel Macron highlighted the crisis, while health ministers urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors due to pollution risks.
On Tuesday, the prefect ordered evacuations of all camping sites near the coast at Lacanau and urged nearby towns to prepare for sudden evacuation.
Totals show about 4,000 tourists were told to leave the area, with 240 homes destroyed and 220,000 people evacuated across France in recent days.
Local businesses and wine estates have closed due to smoke, expecting tourism to suffer, though a brief rain spell has helped slightly.
Commentators and residents expressed frustration over loss of homes and hard‑working firefighters exhausted by weeks of combating the fires.
