Ankara: Two firefighters died Tuesday while battling a building fire near Bordeaux-Merignac Airport in southwestern France, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, according to broadcaster France Info.

According to Anadolu Agency, Nunez informed lawmakers at the National Assembly about the tragic loss, stating that he had been notified by the prefect of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and the Gironde department. The minister announced his intention to visit the scene of the incident.

The fire erupted shortly after 2 pm local time (1200GMT) and reportedly began as a brush fire. It quickly spread, resulting in large plumes of smoke that were visible across western Bordeaux. This incident underscores the ongoing wildfire risks as hot weather and prolonged drought conditions persist across France.

On the preceding day, Meteo-France had placed 27 departments under a high forest fire risk alert, highlighting the increased threat of such incidents during the current weather conditions.