PARIS — A wildfire raging in southwestern France’s Landes region has burned around 1,600 hectares and forced the evacuation of 650 people as firefighters battle difficult conditions, local authorities said Saturday.Landes Prefect Gilles Clavreul said the area affected by the blaze expanded overnight, while two additional sectors could be evacuated if the flames cross containment lines, according to BFMTV.The fire had been “developing rather favorably” before intensifying again at around 4:30 a.m. local time in an area difficult for emergency crews to access, said Col. Arnaud Fabre, head of the Landes departmental fire and rescue service.Authorities said the area would be the main focus of firefighting operations throughout the day.Clavreul said officials had requested the renewed deployment of an Australian-loaned Chinook helicopter, Canadair firefighting aircraft and other aerial resources to help contain the blaze.The twin-rotor CH-47D Chinook can release around 11,300 liters of water in a single drop, nearly twice the capacity of a Canadair aircraft, and can operate during both day and night. It can refill its tank in about 90 seconds from a nearby water source.Clavreul expressed hope that slightly lower temperatures and possible rainfall Saturday evening would help firefighters bring the blaze under control, while stressing that authorities remained cautious about weather forecasts.Meanwhile, France’s meteorological agency Meteo-France placed 64 departments under an orange heatwave alert.Although the heatwave is gradually easing across western France, temperatures are expected to remain between 30C and 34C in several areas.High temperatures and persistent drought have significantly increased the risk of wildfires across the country.
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