'Mega-fire' among multiple wildfires authorities battle to contain in South of France
Wildfires have destroyed at least 650 hectares of land in the Gard department, in the South of France.
Météo-France placed the region "on maximum alert for forest fires" on Friday due to the heat, gusts of wind and vegetation weakened by extreme and early drought.
Some 745 firefighters from all over France have been mobilised for what local relief workers are calling a "mega-fire" in the north of the area, near the Ardèche.
"We are working on the fire on its edges, but it will take a very long time to put out because the fire is kilometres wide. We will be able to speak of a controlled fire when there is no longer any risk of resumption. But with the very unfavourable weather conditions that we are facing, it may not be before Sunday," said Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Agrinier, communications officer for the Gard firefighters.
On the ground, many trees have been burned. "From a distance you can see the brown Cévennes... it hurts," said Anaïs Donval, a resident from Bessèges, who was evacuated for the night.
"Afterwards, there is more fear than harm, there was very little damage and no injuries, that's the main thing," she added, reassured to know her house was spared.
While the blaze ravaged hundreds of hectares in a few hours, only a garage and another small building were burned.
According to the mayor of Gagnières, Olivier Martin, the village was "saved" thanks to firefighters who quickly lit a counter fire.
However, this fire remains modest compared to the 5,000 hectares burned in September 1985 a few kilometres away, in the region of Portes, a disaster forever in the memory of the older residents.
The Gard firefighters have been stretched thin as they faced eight other fires in the area on Friday. Locals have been told to stay
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