French firefighters battle Riviera inferno for third day

Blaze near Saint-Tropez forces thousands to evacuate as summer of wildfires continues to grip the Mediterranean region.

Hundreds of firefighters are struggling for a third day on Wednesday to contain France’s worst wildfire of the summer near the glitzy Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez. The blaze has scorched some 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres) in a region known for its forests, vineyards and fauna since it broke out in the Plaine des Maures nature reserve on Monday evening and forced thousands of residents and tourists to flee. At least 22 people, including two firefighters, have suffered from smoke inhalation or minor fire-related injuries so far, according to local officials.