A wildfire in the south of France has burned through more than 2,500 hectares, forced 400 people to evacuate, and cut power to 2,300 households. Photo credit: X/@MarioNawfalA fast-moving wildfire sweeping through southern France forced the evacuation of at least 400 people after scorching around 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of forested land in the Var region, authorities said on Tuesday.Nearly 1,000 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft and helicopters, battled the blaze as it spread through the wooded hills between Marseille and Nice, according to news agency AFP.Simon Barbre, prefect for the region located between Marseille and Nice said that several of the evacuees were from Ponteves, starting-point of the fire, and the nearby village of Sillans-la-Cascade.Evacuations took place around the villages of Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens and Correns. Barbre also said air crews were racing to lay down fire-retardant barriers ahead of the advancing flames.Before aircraft were grounded for the night, firefighting crews carried out a massive aerial firefighting operation. More than 100 water and retardant drops using eight Canadair water bombers, four-water-dropping helicopters and two Dash aircraft were released to extinguish the fast-moving fire.Several volunteered to aid the firefighters. One fire engine was damaged and four firefighters and two residents of Ponteves suffered minor smoke inhalation, according to local authorities.As per the latest update by AFP, the fire has been contained in the region.Very dry conditions in the area have caused an extreme forest-fire risk, according to the French weather service Meteo-France. However, the wildfires started erupting earlier than usual due to repeated heatwaves and drought.Nearly 40,000 hectares have burned in France since the start of the year, "far more than was burned during the whole of last year", according to Interior Minister Laurent NunezEarlier this week, another blaze in the Var region near Les Arcs-sur-Argens burned about 200 hectares and destroyed several homes.In the French Alps, a lightning-triggered wildfire has charred 130 hectares in the remote Écrins mountain range, while firefighters on the Mediterranean island of Corsica are still battling a blaze that has been burning for nine days.