Var forest fire: 10,000 evacuated

TEN thousand people have been evacuated from campsites in the Var after a forest fire broke out between Fréjus and Bagnols-en-Forêt.

Four Canadair firefighting planes, two helicopters and 50 fire trucks have been on the scene this afternoon.

The fire broke out at about 13.40 and emergency services were worried that it would spread with the wind.

Three campsites were evacuated and three municipal buildings were opened to accommodate holidaymakers.

The sous-préfecture says the fire has been brought under control and those affected should be able to return to their camp this evening, although several dozen mobile homes have reportedly been destroyed.

#incendie #Frejus 30 mobilhomes brûlés au camping Pin de la Lègue,10 à
l'Holiday Green.La Pierre verte pas de dégâts pic.twitter.com/GgSnbUF7mG— France 3 Côte d'Azur (@F3cotedazur) 27 Juillet 2015

Other forest fires have been reported this afternoon in Bauduen, La Cadière d'Azur and between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Bandol, destroying several hectares of land.

By coincidence, President Hollande was in the Var this morning, in Bormes-les-Mimosas, to set out a new forest fire prevention and treatment plan.