Firefighters in southern France are battling multiple wildfires that flare amid parched conditions following a European heatwave. Several outlets report that weeks of dry weather and record or unusually high temperatures leave vegetation unusually vulnerable, and that strong winds are contributing to the spread of blazes. France’s interior minister, Laurent Nunez, says that on Thursday three fires were burning, including two on the western edge of Marseille, and that the fires had scorched a combined area of about 1,210 hectares. The French Alps are also mentioned, where one firefighter dies while fighting a wildfire during the heatwave period. Authorities warn that this year’s fire season is starting earlier than usual across parts of Europe, after early heatwaves in May and June dried out the landscape. Other reporting indicates wildfires are affecting additional areas of southern Europe, pointing to a broader regional pattern tied to extreme heat and low moisture. A further heatwave is forecast in the coming days, raising concerns about continued fire risk.