With surrounding towns in southwestern France evacuated and fire still spreading rapidly, several thousand are sheltering in the city, unsure what will become of their homes.

© Ed Jones/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Nearly 300,000 have been told to evacuate or take shelter as major fires edged closer to Madrid and Bordeaux.

© Agence France-Presse, via Sdis33 - Caporal-Chef Damien Rem

A blaze sweeping the countryside of southwestern France drew close enough to worry officials in the city of some 270,000 people.

© Manon Cruz/Reuters

Firefighters were scrambling to contain blazes that were moving toward major cities. Some 200,000 people have evacuated or sheltered at home.

Firefighters were scrambling to contain blazes that were moving toward major cities. Some 200,000 people have evacuated or sheltered at home.

© Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters