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Cigarette butt thought to have caused major forest fire in southern France as Italy, Croatia and Montenegro battle blazes

Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire in Saint Cannat, near Aix en Provence, in the Bouches du Rhone region. More than 800 hectares have burned in the area located in the north-west of Aix-en-Provence - AFP
Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire in Saint Cannat, near Aix en Provence, in the Bouches du Rhone region. More than 800 hectares have burned in the area located in the north-west of Aix-en-Provence - AFP

A discarded cigarette butt is believed to have caused a massive forest fire that destroyed 800 hectares of land in the south of France at the weekend, as dry conditions see blazes across southern Europe.

More than 800 firefighters and 210 fire engines were drafted in to tackle a wild fire this weekend at Saint-Cannat, near the southern French university city of Aix-en-Provence, prompting police close to roads and some rambling areas to the public.   Train services between Paris and Marseille were also delayed as the fire spread close to the tracks.

The fire started up again twice on Sunday, but despite its rapid spread, claimed no victims, confirmed the Bouches-du-Rhône's fire service.

A man stands near a forest fire in Saint Cannat, near Aix en Provence, in the Bouches du Rhone region. - Credit:  FRANCK PENNANT/AFP
A man stands near a forest fire in Saint Cannat, near Aix en Provence, in the Bouches du Rhone region. Credit: FRANCK PENNANT/AFP

As for the causes: "The theory of the discarded cigarette butt is currently favoured because the fire started by the side of the road," said Rémy Avon, vice-prosecutor for the Aix-en-Provence area.

Starting a fire, even involuntarily via a cigarette butt, is punishable by a maximum three years in prison and a €45,000 fine. Authorities said there was no suggestion it was the result of arson but had also ruled out natural causes.

Fire services were on red alert on Monday as temperatures were expected to soar into the mid to high 30s.

Over in Montenegro, at least 100 tourists have been forced to evacuate a coastal area threatened by wildfires that are also raging along the Adriatic sea coastline in neighboring Croatia.

Smoke rises over the Montenegro capital Podgorica, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. - Credit:  Risto Bozovic/AP
Smoke rises over the Montenegro capital Podgorica, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. Credit: Risto Bozovic/AP

Fueled by strong winds and dry weather, the fire on the Lustica peninsula, southern Montenegro, has spread near to homes and camping zones.

Further north in Croatia, firefighters have also been battling a number of strong fires along the Adriatic coast. Several hundred acres of pine strong>span class="red">forest/span>/strong>s and low shrubbery have been burnt, with the winds sending the blaze spreading in several directions.

Blazes around Srinjene, near the coastal town of Split forced the tourists to leave the area, which was left without electricity or water, according to Croatian TV.

Over in Italy, a persistent drought has worsened fire conditions across the country, but especially in the south where precipitation levels are down and temperatures have soared to three degrees Celsius higher than the norm for July.  High winds on Sunday fanned flames in Italy's tinder dry maritime pine forests, causing several beach establishments and campgrounds to be evacuated on the border of Tuscany and Lazio, near Capalbio.

A Canadair firefighting aircraft battles forest fires on the edge of Mt Somma near the Mount Vesuvius volcano in Mount Vesuvius National Park, near Naples - Credit: CIRO FUSCO/ANSA
A Canadair firefighting aircraft battles forest fires on the edge of Mt Somma near the Mount Vesuvius volcano in Mount Vesuvius National Park, near Naples Credit: CIRO FUSCO/ANSA

Italy’s Department of Civil Protection is fighting fires on numerous fronts, with 15 requests for water-bombing planes and helicopters in south central Italy. Seven fires were reported in Campania, where evacuations were under way near Paestum. There are also three burning in Lazio, two in Tuscany and one in Liguria, Sardegna and Calabria.  Local railways were also temporarily interrupted.

The UK embassy in Rome updated its travel advisory for British tourists who might be traveling in the region, but said they had not received specific requests for consular aid. 

“We are urging British citizens to take all precautions and follow the advice of local authorities and the civil protection,” said an embassy spokesperson in Rome.