Nearly 1,000 firefighters and several helicopters were deployed on July 18 to combat a wildfire burning roughly 40 km northwest of Marseille, France's second-largest city. The blaze has

scorched 240 hectares so far but is now being brought under control, thanks to cooler temperatures and increased humidity.

This fire comes just a week after another blaze reached the northwestern outskirts of Marseille, prompting evacuations, lockdowns, and the temporary closure of the local airport.

Colonel Pierre Bepoix, deputy director of regional firefighting operations, confirmed that about 150 people had to be evacuated. However, fire crews successfully protected around 150 homes and nearby forested areas.

“It was a fire that spread through dense vegetation, which made our intervention particularly challenging,” Bepoix told Reuters. “Our top priority was the protection of homes and the lives within them.”

Local authorities noted that while 120 homes were under threat, it was too early to determine the extent of any damage. Two firefighters sustained injuries during the operation.

In neighboring Spain, a wildfire that ignited on the evening of July 17 in the central province of Toledo consumed 3,200 hectares of woodland and was visible from downtown Madrid. Regional emergency officials reported that the fire’s perimeter had been secured, but concerns remain due to forecasted high temperatures and strong winds.