dpa
(MCT)
Paris — In drought conditions and with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, the first forest fires have broken out in southern France, some of them fuelled by strong winds.
Near Narbonne, close to the border with Spain, 300 firefighters with dozens of emergency vehicles, firefighting planes and helicopters fought a blaze until the early hours of Saturday, which engulfed about 120 hectares of pine forest, according to the prefecture.
No people or buildings were harmed, but around 100 hectares of forest were destroyed.
On the Côte d’Azur, flames broke out on Saturday in the mountainous hinterland of the town of Grasse, known for its perfume industry.
According to the fire brigade, 150 officers were fighting the flames in terrain that was difficult to access.
Firefighting planes were expected to arrive in the afternoon to fight the fire, which continued to spread in the coniferous woods, the Nice-Matin newspaper reported.
The brigade had been able to prevent the flames from spreading to several houses and a perfume factory.
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