While many states in America are suffering from the scorching heat, France is troubled by the fire in its place. Due to the massive fire that broke out in south-west France, more than 55 thousand people had to leave their homes last Sunday night. In this way, the total number of people leaving their homes in just one area has reached close to 2.5 lakh, as the flames were getting closer to Bordeaux, a city famous for wine. Not only France but neighboring country Spain has also sent people to safe places due to the fire on its eastern coast.
Strong and changing winds, as well as dry weather, made it extremely difficult to try to stop the spread of the terrible fire, which has been burning out of control in the Gironde region of France (where the city of Bordeaux is located) for several days. Authorities issued evacuation orders overnight from five more areas southwest of the historic city. More than 55,000 people had to leave their homes in this area last night. Whereas till now the total number of people leaving their homes has reached 2,20,000.
Fire broke out in an area four times larger than Paris
On the incident of arson, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, “The situation is still very bad.” He described it as “another difficult night” for firefighters, who have been battling the blaze for more than 24 hours, which has burned an area four times the size of Paris.
“The fire again became very dangerous and uncontrolled, generating its own winds and moving strangely towards the Bordeaux metropolitan area,” Nunez said in a post on the social media platform X. He further said, “However, by the end of the night it calmed down a bit.”
Pope appeals for prayer for people
On the other hand, at the end of his Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV referred to the “terrible fires” in France and Spain and said, “I appeal to all to pray for those affected and for those engaged in rescue operations.” As of Sunday morning, an estimated 42,000 hectares (162 square miles) of Gironde had been burned by the fire, according to the region’s authorities. Most of this area was covered with forests and bushes, which had completely dried up due to the continuous heat wave. This area is seven times larger than the island of Manhattan and four times larger than Paris.
Firefighters rushed to fight the flames in trucks, and planes dropping water and firefighting chemicals circled in the smoke-filled air. Farmers also participated in this campaign and supplied water through big tanks so that the fire crew could fight the fire without any hindrance.
2,500 firefighters, 18 aircraft to extinguish the fire
Theo Hernandez, who runs a wine business, said, “This allows firefighters to pay attention to the fire. It is very fast and dangerous, it is spreading quickly everywhere.” “We hope it will stop soon,” he said.
Nunez said that the number of firefighters engaged in extinguishing the fire has increased to 2,500. This campaign is also being helped by 18 planes and helicopters from other European countries. Soldiers have also been called. The minister said a large A400M military cargo aircraft converted to fight forest fires will also be re-used.
On Saturday, the plane flew at low altitude over dry forests at risk of fire and released a long shower of ochre-coloured chemical. Gironde authorities say 75 firefighters have been treated for injuries and the fire has destroyed 240 homes.
Crisis continues due to dangerous ‘fire storm’
Gironde officials said that for the first time in France, the fire has turned into a dangerous ‘firestorm’ several times – which keeps inflaming itself. This happened recently on Saturday night, creating lightning that could rekindle the fire. “It’s like facing a hurricane,” said Gironde Fire Chief Mark Vermeulen.
Sophie Brocas, the prefect of Gironde, warned that people would not be allowed to return to their towns and villages until the fires were brought under control. He also appealed to holidaymakers not to come to the area, which has famous Atlantic beaches and some of the largest forests in France. At present there are no plans to evacuate the city of Bordeaux. 2,68,000 people live in this city.
Spain also troubled by arson, forced to leave home
Thousands of people in Spain, adjacent to France, have also been forced to leave their homes. Forest fires around Madrid in Spain had gone out of control. On Sunday, due to fire in Valencia area also, people had to leave their homes and were taken to safer places.
According to the local government, a forest fire that broke out in Manises, on the outskirts of Valencia, continued to burn for four hours on Saturday, resulting in the death of one person. This is the first death recorded in Spain in recent fire incidents.
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