PARIS – Thousands of firefighters are battling a deadly 39,000-acre fire in Southern France this week that has claimed at least one life, with others missing, as drought conditions help fuel wildfire growth across Europe.

The fire sparked near the town of Ribaute in the Aude region of Southern France on Tuesday afternoon. By the following day, the fire had exploded in size to more than 27,000 acres. On Thursday, Aude officials reported the blaze has consumed 39,536 acres, an area equivalent to one-and-a-half times the size of Paris.

GREENLAND VILLAGE COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH A GIANT ICEBERG

The Aude prefecture reported more than 2,100 first responders and 500 vehicles are on site battling the blaze, alongside the Gendarmerie and the Army. On Wednesday, more than 130 water and fire suppre

See Full Page