Fires in French town prompt evacuation of dozens of residents | News

Dozens of residents of the town of Frontignan in southwestern France were evacuated on Sunday as fires raged in a nearby pine forest, local authorities said.

A total of 600 firefighters, 11 water bombers and two helicopters have been deployed to contain the fire, local civil security authorities said on the X platform.

The fire, which has destroyed 300 hectares of land, broke out near the A9 motorway from Montpellier to the Spanish border, but is moving inland towards the Gardiol mountains.

Frontignan, a town of 24,000 people southwest of Montpellier, launched the local emergency plan at around 6 p.m. local time on Sunday.

A Frontignan municipal official said evacuations continued on Sunday because dozens of homes were at risk.

Streets in the town were closed to traffic to allow fire and law enforcement personnel to operate smoothly.

The municipality said the evacuees were being housed in a sports hall.