Fire Burns on French Highway During Record-Breaking Heat Wave

A fire broke out on a highway median in France on Wednesday, July 24, as the region endured a record-breaking heat wave, local media reported.

French national weather service Meteo-France recorded temperatures as high as 107 F (42 C) on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, the weather service had declared a “red” warning – issued for dangerous heat conditions where “absolute vigilance is required” – for much of north-central France.

Most of the rest of the country was under an “orange” warning, which calls for an active awareness of the heat wave.

This video, posted July 24, shows a fire burning on the median of a highway in Eysines, near Bordeaux. The high temperature for Eysines was reportedly 106 F (41 C).

Local media reported the fire slowed traffic on France’s A630 between Eysines and Merignac.

On Tuesday, more than a dozen fires broke out near roads and railroad tracks in the area, which is experiencing drought conditions, local media reported.

Meteo-France said that Thursday was expected to see the highest temperatures of the heat wave. Credit: Stephan Gregoire via Storyful