Firefighters in southern France earlier this month. Photo: AFPThe Local · 22 Aug 2016, 12:43Published: 22 Aug 2016 12:43 GMT+02:00Updated: 22 Aug 2016 12:43 GMT+02:00Five forest areas in the Var département of southeastern France have been put on high alert due to risks of forest fires. As the temperature soars all over France this week, the Var département is on high alert because of its vulnerability to forest fires. Severe droughts and strong winds have increased the risk of forest fires throughout the region, with five mountain ridges in the Var particularly at risk, the département’s prefecture warned on Sunday. Marseille, in southern France, was also hit by wildfires that burned some 3,300 of forest earlier in August.

Source: The Local August 22, 2016 10:41 UTC