"The fire seems to be less intense than before but is not yet under control," Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said in a tweet. Hundreds of extra firefighters have been drafted in from elsewhere in France to tackle the blaze. Photo: AFPAFP · 11 Aug 2016, 07:25Published: 11 Aug 2016 07:25 GMT+02:00France has mobilised 1,500 firefighters to tackle wildfires in countryside north of Marseille that have gutted buildings and forced more than 1,000 people to flee their homes. Story continues below…Further west in Herault, four firefighters were injured battling another blaze when their vehicle was surrounded by the flames. Homes were destroyed in the town of Vitrolles, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Marseille, with more than 1,000 people forced to seek shelter in local sports centres.

Source: The Local August 11, 2016 03:33 UTC