Gironde wildfires pick up as French region braces for new 40C heatwave

Gironde wildfires pick up as French region braces for new 40C heatwaveImage source, ReutersByLaura GozziPublished3 minutes agoFirefighters in France are working around the clock to contain wildfires that have been raging in the Gironde region, while bracing for another sharp rise in temperatures."The fire is like David against Goliath," said Eric Brocardi, spokesman of the national firefighters' federation. Four of his colleagues had died in recent weeks across France, he said, and 2,000 had been deployed in the Gironde to contain the flames, which for days have ravaged the countryside between the coastline and Bordeaux. "Weather conditions were unfavourable," a local official warned, as this summer's fourth heatwave was expected to start by Wednesday, bringing temperatures in the area to 40C. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, "The fire is like David against Goliath," said the spokesman of the French firefighters' federationBordeaux, which has a population of 260,000, is not currently under threat, according to officials.But Commander Rémi Lassoureille, who is leading the firefighting response in the Gironde region, is worried about the western edge of the wildfire."We are frightened about the impact on Bordeaux and the metropolitan area," he said. One of the wildfires burning on Monday was 15km (9 miles) from the periphery of Bordeaux, where the air quality has deteriorated dramatically in recent days."By Sunday evening everything had really begun to empty out," a holidaymaker from Essex told the BBC, adding that the air was "really smoky" with bits of ash. "People were staying indoors, so it was eerie, and very sad."The majority of residents and tourists were wearing masks and the smell of smoke clung on to clothes for days, she said. A firefighter "got a round of applause" as he walked through the Marché Chartrons square in Bordeaux where restaurants were having...