A wildfire that broke out on 8 July near Castelnau-de-Guers and Montagnac in France’s Hérault department has scorched at least 400 hectares of vegetation and travelled across roughly 700 hectares, according to the prefecture. Around 300 firefighters, backed by six Canadair amphibious aircraft and two Dash water-bombers, were battling the flames in strong winds Tuesday evening. Smoke from the blaze forced authorities to close the A9 motorway in both directions between Sète (exit 33) and Agde (exit 34). The prefecture and operator Vinci Autoroutes diverted north-south traffic via the A75 and A709, disrupting a key corridor linking the Spanish border with the Rhône valley at the height of the summer holiday season. The shutdown is the second on the A9 in four days. On 5 July an earlier fire near Fabrègues prompted a temporary closure between Sète and Lunel, burned about 60 hectares and mobilised 200 firefighters and four Canadairs. Authorities warned that hot, windy conditions could hamper efforts to contain the latest blaze.