France and Germany in flames; Warnings issued: "Fire zones, get out..."

The fire that broke out in France started in the Landes de Gascogne forest, with strong winds hampering firefighting efforts, Le Figaro reported.

Around midnight, the flames were just a few hundred meters from Luglon, a village located about 60 kilometers southeast of Biscarrosse.

“The development of the fire remains highly uncertain, as the flames are spreading rapidly and the wind keeps changing direction,” said official Gilles Clavreuil.

He added that the fire spread very rapidly during the afternoon, developing its own energy and creating localized weather conditions — so-called fire clouds — which are making firefighting efforts even more difficult.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The new wildfire broke out several weeks after a fire near Biscarrosse destroyed around 3,700 hectares, while in the neighboring Gironde department, one of the largest wildfires in France’s recent history simultaneously swept through more than 40,000 hectares.

The highest-level warning, “extreme danger,” was issued through Germany’s NINA warning system.

Firefighters have been battling the blaze since Thursday afternoon, and a helicopter also took part in firefighting efforts during the day.

Several roads have been closed because of the fire.

Despite the spread of the wildfire, there have been no reports of injuries so far.