UPDATE - Hundreds evacuated as fire in southern France burns over 700 hectares

UPDATES WITH NEW MEASURES ANNOUNCED BY FRENCH AUTHORITIES; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Shweta Desai

PARIS (AA) – More than 1,200 people were evacuated on Tuesday as a major fire engulfed over 700 hectares (1,700 acres) of forestland in southern France.

The fire that began on Monday in the Massegros commune in Lozere in the Occitanie region has reached the neighboring commune of Aveyron.

The Aveyron prefecture said on Twitter that nearly 1,200 local residents and tourists were evacuated overnight Monday to Tuesday. Around 600 firefighters supported by water jet bombers are currently on the ground trying to control the flames.

The fire was accidentally started during civil work, according to the firefighters, news channel BFMTV reported.

Several fires are raging across France, many of them natural, but some the suspected work of arsonists. The ongoing hot weather has increased the risk of blazes.

As a precautionary measure, the Hautes-Alpes prefecture in southeastern France on Tuesday banned the use of fire in woods, forests, plantations, etc., and in land near these places, until Sept. 8. This effectively prohibits barbecues, campfires, bonfires, and fireworks on forestland.

The ban was issued in view of the “exceptional drought situation which has affected the department for several months with very marked rainfall deficits throughout the territory and signs of drought at historic levels,” officials said.

The Earth observation program of the European Union, the Copernicus mission, has listed France in the extreme danger forecast due to the fires. According to its data, over 48,000 hectares (118,600 acres) of land have burned in France this year.