Firefighters on Tuesday (July 28) readied for another day of battling a raging wildfire in France, as the country was bracing for its fourth major heatwave of the year, with soaring temperatures and tinder-dry conditions across the southwest set to pile pressure on crews.

Fire crews had contained the blaze overnight, but the situation remained difficult, local officials said.

The wildfire area, near the major city of Bordeaux, is covered by pine forests, which become highly flammable when dry.

The fire has burned down 42,000 hectares so far.

Temperatures in Bordeaux are forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, around 7 degrees above the average high between 1961 and 1990, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCKS DRIVING IN ROAD NEAR BASE

2. VEHICLES IN ROAD, FIREFIGHTERS WALKING NEAR FIREFIGHTER VEHICLES

3. FIREFIGHTER VEHICLES / FIRE TRUCK DRIVING TOWARDS BASE

4. VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCKS DRIVING BY

5. FIRE TRUCK IN ROAD, FIREFIGHTER WALKING BY