France records 12,500 wildfires as probe opens into firefighters' deaths

France has recorded 12,500 wildfire outbreaks since the beginning of the year, with nearly 44,000 hectares (109,000 acres) burned nationwide, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Wednesday. Firefighters continued to battle several major blazes, including a fire near Saumos in southwestern France that has burned 600 hectares and forced 600 people to evacuate.

Investigation into Firefighters' Deaths

Separately, Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul said an investigation had been opened on suspicion of deliberate arson resulting in the deaths of two professional firefighters. "I am not saying we have definitive evidence proving a deliberate act, but at the current stage of the investigation, this is the line of inquiry we are prioritizing," he said. Nunez said 128 people have been arrested in connection with wildfire-related incidents since the start of the fire season.

Firefighters and Response

A total of 500 firefighters, supported by aerial resources including Canadair and Dash aircraft, were deployed to fight the Saumos fire. New vegetation fires were also reported in Nice and Correze, while 14 outbreaks were recorded in the Gironde department. France has experienced repeated heatwaves in recent weeks as wildfires have affected several parts of the country.