Sandy firebreaks have created a stark contrast between the verdant woodland surrounding Lacanau and the devastated areas in monochrome, still heavy with smoke. Lacanau, a coastal town some 48km (30 miles) west of Bordeaux, has mobilised over the past week to meet the fire threat head-on. Dozens of volunteers are now working around the clock to guide firefighters, feed the displaced and to put out fires. After several days in the forest, some of the volunteers have eyes reddened and voices broken from the smoke. Pick-up trucks stream back and forth with water and aid while Canadair water bombers swoop overhead, the frontlines now just 2km away.