France wildfire burns area four times the size of Paris
CBS News says more than 2,500 firefighters are battling fires in France as Spain fights 16 active blazes, including its worst on record.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
2 min read
A France wildfire Paris size comparison is now the stark measure of a fast-moving emergency in Western Europe: CBS News reported that one blaze in France has scorched an area four times the size of the French capital.
The report, by CBS News correspondent Ramy Inocencio, said more than 2,500 firefighters are fighting fires across France. The broadcast did not give a precise acreage for the burned area, but the comparison to Paris signals a vast footprint already blackened by the flames.
France is not the only country under pressure. In Spain, CBS News reported that more than 1,000 firefighters are working to contain 16 active fires.
The Avila Fire is the most serious of those blazes, according to CBS News, which described it as Spain’s worst on record.
How big is the France wildfire?
CBS News reported that the French wildfire has burned an area four times the size of Paris. The network did not specify whether that comparison refers to the city’s administrative footprint or provide a separate measurement in acres, hectares or square miles.
The Paris comparison gives readers a quick way to grasp the scale: one fire alone has covered several city-sized areas, while crews are also dealing with fires elsewhere in France.
What is happening in Spain?
Spain is facing its own firefighting crunch. CBS News said more than 1,000 firefighters are trying to bring 16 active fires under control.
An active fire is a blaze that still requires firefighting operations, monitoring or containment work. CBS News identified the Avila Fire as the country’s worst on record, but did not report additional figures for damage, evacuations or injuries in the segment.
Western Europe faces a multi-country fire fight
The fires in France and Spain are part of a wider wildfire emergency across Western Europe, according to CBS News. The numbers show the strain on emergency crews: thousands of firefighters in France and Spain are working at the same time against multiple fronts.
CBS News did not report a cause for the fires or a timeline for when crews expect to contain them. Its report focused on the scale of the burned area in France and the number of active fires facing Spain.
The latest CBS News video report on the wildfires can be watched here.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.