Wildfire Spreads Near Popular French Tourist Town as Thousands Are Evacuated

FRANCE – About 20,000 people were evacuated from towns and vacation resorts along the French Atlantic coast Thursday as the latest in series of wildfires raged, and hundreds of firefighters were dispatched to tackle it.

Local authorities said the fire in a forest near the town southwest of Bordeaux, has spread over more than 5,900 acres, though no injuries have been reported.

Some 700 firefighters including forces that traveled from the Paris region, have been deployed.

More than 10,000 people, including tourists staying at holiday camps and campgrounds were moved to safety overnight, along with more than 1,000 residents living in residential areas along the forest edge.