Wildfires continues to rage in France’s southwestern department of Gironde, with more than 3,700 hectares of land burned since September 12, Gironde Prefecture, state services in Gironde, stated in a statement.

The prefecture added that gendarmes evacuated an addition of 1,000 people as a precautionary measure, bringing the total number of evacuees to 1,840.

“More than 1,000 firefighters from Gironde and other departments are being mobilized. Six Canadair, three Dash (plane) and two water bomber helicopters were deployed today for troublesome zones,” the Prefecture mentioned.

The prefecture is offering emergency accommodation to evacuees in Le Porge and other municipalities. The wildfire was contained but remained active due to strong winds, the state remarked.

The state services also reminded residents near wildfire areas to wear FFP2 or FFP3 masks to prevent inhaling wildfire smoke.  Local media reported that more than 30,000 hectares of land have burned in the Gironde region this summer due to dry weather and heat wave.

The biggest fire is now burning near the town of Soumos, while a small fire broke out south of Bordeaux, near Dax, where temperatures reached 39 degree Celsius.  An investigation also been started to find out the cause of the fire.

French weather agency Meteo France has cited that, the southwestern region recorded the highest temperature for this month which is 39.1 degree Celsius. The region was hit by drought and devastating wildfires. So far this year, more than 60,000 hectares of land has been destroyed in France.

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