French authorities evacuated 525 residents of Luglon after a wildfire broke out in the pine forests of the southwestern Landes region, burning 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) after igniting on Thursday and spreading to within 2 km (1.2 miles) of the village centre by Friday, according to regional official Gilles Clavreul.
French village of Luglon evacuated as wildfire burns 1,100 hectares in Landes region
French authorities evacuated 525 residents of Luglon after a wildfire broke out in the pine forests of the southwestern Landes region, burning 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) after igniting on Thursday and spreading to within 2 km (1.2 miles) of the village centre by Friday, according to regional official Gilles Clavreul.
Clavreul told reporters on Friday that the situation was unfavourable, with 500 firefighters tackling the flames aided by six aircraft. Police closed road links to the north and south of the village while evacuating residents.
Luglon lies approximately 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Arcachon Bay, where two major wildfires earlier in the summer burned more than 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres) and prompted the evacuation of as many as 220,000 people in late July.
Temperatures in the area were expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) on Friday afternoon. The Landes region is covered in pine forests that become highly flammable in dry conditions.
The total area burned in France this season already exceeds the figure recorded in 2022, which the source describes as the previous record year.
- The source does not state the cause of the fire.
- The source does not give a figure for the total area burned across France so far this season, only that it exceeds the 2022 record.
- The source does not state when the evacuation of Luglon's 525 residents began or was completed.
- The source does not indicate whether any injuries or fatalities resulted from the Luglon fire.
- The source does not state the precise area burned in the 2022 record year against which the current season is being compared.
Read the original at The Straits Times