France wildfire that reached Marseille loses intensity, firefighters continue battle
Lockdown lifted and residents allowed out after wildfire reached France’s second-largest city
A wildfire that reached the northwestern outskirts of France’s second-biggest city, Marseille, lost intensity overnight, though firefighters continued to battle the smouldering blaze on Wednesday and warned that it could flare up again.
Officials told residents they were no longer in lockdown, though some who were evacuated were likely to find their homes in ashes. Ten houses were completely destroyed and dozens damaged, they said, though no fatalities were reported.
“Everything on my grandmother’s property was destroyed,” resident Melanie Basques said, adding that her grandmother was safe after being evacuated on Tuesday.
But the destruction was extensive, she said.
“There are three families on that land, and on our side, everything was destroyed – sheds, homes, everything. Photos that were sent show her house is completely destroyed.”
Marseille firefighters’ chief Lionel Mathieu said around 700 crew, assisted by helicopters dropping water, were trying to rein in fires north of the city and prevent them from being rekindled.