France struggles to extinguish days-long forest blazes

Firefighters in France's southwestern Gironde region were fighting to control two forest blazes that have devoured more than 10,000 hectares since July 12.

Firefighters in France are battling forest blazes that have ravaged thousands of hectares of land since the start of the week, France 24 reports.

"It's a Herculean job," said Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier Chavatte from the fire and rescue service, which has 1,200 firefighters and five planes in action. Further evacuation orders were given on Saturday for a few hundred residents, firefighter spokesman Arnaud Mendousse told AFP.

"Several fires are still active in France," interior minister Gerald Darmanin said in a tweet. "Our firefighters are fighting the flames with remarkable courage," he added.

Since Tuesday, more than 14,000 people -- residents and tourists combined -- have been forced to decamp with seven emergency shelters set up in order to receive evacuees. Meteo France forecast temperatures of up to 41 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of southern France on Sunday, as well as up to 35 in the northwest, with new heat records expected on July 11.