Firefighters Bring Forest Blazes Under Control In Parts Of Southern France

PARIS (AP) -- Firefighters brought blazes under control in the forests of southern France on Monday, though heavy winds and dry weather left the area at risk.

In the Bouches-du-Rhone region around Marseille, two days of flames destroyed more than 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of brush and pine forest, said Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin. Police believe an arsonist may have been responsible.

Fires devoured a cypress forest in the nearby town of Carpentras, where 150 people were evacuated from two warehouses and a home.

As winds calmed on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, a blaze in the northern forest of Bonifato stabilized, thought it was still burning, officials said. About 450 hectares (1100 acres) of pine and oak forest had been destroyed.

France is at risk for more forest fires, the interior minister said, urging people to alert the police at the slightest sign of a blaze.