Nairobi: Two wildfires erupted in France's southern Var department, impacting approximately 90 hectares and prompting evacuations, as reported by local authorities.
According to Anadolu Agency, a swiftly moving fire initially affected around 30 hectares in Taradeau before advancing to the adjacent commune of Les Arcs, where an additional 60 hectares were burned, as detailed by the Var Prefecture on the US social media platform X. The prefecture indicated that strong winds and vegetation suffering from drought conditions contributed to the fire's rapid expansion.
Authorities took action by evacuating several hamlets, and the mayor of Les Arcs instructed residents to vacate the Chateau Saint-Pierre, Font du Loup, and Plateau des Aires neighborhoods. Var Prefect Simon Babre initiated the departmental operations center, and an operational command post was set up in Les Arcs. Emergency response plans were also activated in both communes.
The firefighting efforts involved approximately 220 firefighters and 100 vehicles, along with support from two Canadair firefighting aircraft, three water-bombing helicopters, and a Dash firefighting aircraft. In a separate incident, another wildfire occurred at the Chateau Vert wine estate near Avenue Clemenceau in La Londe-les-Maures, affecting about 5,000 square meters. Around 60 firefighters and 20 vehicles, supported by aerial resources, were engaged in controlling the blaze, with water-bombing helicopters conducting two drops in the area.