PARIS, July 15 (Reuters) – Hundreds more people were evacuated from their homes as wildfires continued to rage out of control in southwestern France, authorities said on Friday.

Farmers are forced to work in the middle of the night to avoid burning hot tractors from starting fires in her fields.

More than 1,000 firefighters, supported by nine water-bomber aircraft, have been battling since Tuesday to master two blazes fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds.

“The situation is still adverse,” said the authority for the Gironde department, where the blazes are raging.

The fires have now burnt 7,300 hectares, a total that increased by 2,000 hectares overnight, authorities said.

Another wildfire that broke out near the southeastern town of Tarascon on Thursday and burnt at least 1,000 hectares has been stabilised, according to firefighters.

Wildfires also raged across Portugal, Spain and Croatia, burning homes and threatening livelihoods, as much of Europe baked in a heat wave that has pushed temperatures into the mid-40Cs in some parts.  read more