// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
France fire crews face searing heat in battle to contain flames
Planes dump water on French wildfires as temperatures rise
The aerial cavalry of three Canadair aircraft flying overhead look as impressive as they sound.
They arrive in formation, before sharply banking over towards the thick plume of black smoke ahead of us.
Their individual payloads of more than 1,000 gallons of water are then dumped onto the flames below.
A succession of helicopters then follows with their own streams of red fire retardant.
A Canadair aircraft dropping water across a burning fire
As the smoke eases, firefighters then move into the forest on foot to try and contain the latest flare-up.
They are the principal concern for the thousands of crews and volunteers combating the wildfires that have raged here for a week, forcing tens of thousands of residents and tourists to flee.
As temperatures peak at around 40C, fires restarting on their own are a constant threat.
After 20 minutes or so, the one we are watching is brought under control, only for another to suddenly emerge on the opposite side of the road.