New flames thwart French efforts to fight Riviera wildfire

By DANIEL COLE and ANGELA CHARLTON
Associated Press

LE LUC, France (AP) — A wildfire that has forced thousands to flee and ravaged woodlands near the French Riviera is raging for a fourth day despite calmer winds and cooler weather. Local authorities initially said Thursday that the fire was “less violent and its progression has slowed.” But new bursts of flames ignited in three spots later in the day, complicating the work of some 1,200 firefighters struggling to bring the blaze under control. The fire has killed two people and is the latest among numerous large wildfires to have scorched the Mediterranean region this summer. A spokesperson for the regional fire service called it one of the worst forest fires to hit southern France in centuries.