Wildfire kills 2 firefighters in France. Photo: Shutetrstock French authorities have announced the deaths of two firefighters who were engaged in efforts to contain the ongoing wildfire in Mérignac, in the Gironde department.
Laurent Nuñez, France's Minister of the Interior, shared the news on social media, expressing his condolences to the victims' families, colleagues, and the personnel of the Gironde Departmental Fire and Rescue Service.
"It is with immense sadness that I have just learned of the death of two firefighters, engaged in the ongoing fire in Mérignac," Nuñez said.
He praised the courage and dedication of firefighters continuing to battle the blaze under difficult conditions, adding that "the Nation bows before their courage and their commitment to the service of protecting the French people."
The wildfire in Mérignac remains under close monitoring as emergency crews continue operations in the area.
Europe has been battling a series of extensive wildfires in the last two weeks. Yesterday, July 21, all of Sicily's nine provinces were under a high wildfire risk alert.
Spain's Aragón region was also severely hit by wildfires that triggered a Red Alert for forest fire danger. In Andalusia, a devastating blaze near Los Gallardos claimed more than 10 lives and became one of Spain's deadliest wildfires in decades.