Seven firefighting planes were used to help stop the raging firestorm, the worst in years for France, according to AFP reporting. More than 650 firemen along other servicemen across the country have been called in.
Meanwhile, about 600 people has been evacuated from the Bordeaux suburb of Pessac and the village Saint-Jean-d’Illac as a precaution, according to the local authorities.
The wildfire which emerged Friday afternoon in a pine forest on the western edges of the city of Bordeaux has been advancing due to strong 50 km (30 miles) per hour winds. It has consumed at least 550 hectares (1,360 acres) of forest and has been advancing on Sunday despite the redoubled efforts, according to a local police official, as cited by AFP.
#incendie saint-jean-d'illac: météo plus favorable, feu stabilisé, 2 canadairs cet après-midi en renfort #pompiers pic.twitter.com/jzZgz4YRRC
— Préfet Aquitaine (@PrefAquitaine33) July 25, 2015
Large areas of France are experiencing droughts these days. The renowned Bordeaux vineyards in the Aquitaine region are located mainly to the north and east of the city and have not been affected.
France: Assessment of the drought of surface soils at July 22, 2015 @kannbwx @uswheatassoc http://t.co/BqL8oaGetM pic.twitter.com/E2udFyA9N6
— Germain Bour (@BourGermain) July 26, 2015
