French PM blames regiment for wildfire

MARSEILLE, France, July 24 (UPI) -- French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said shooting practice by a French Foreign Legion regiment was to blame for a destructive wildfire.

Fillon said Thursday the recent wildfire near Marseille, France, began when members of the First Foreign Legion Regiment began using non-regulation tracer bullets during a round of target practice, The Guardian (Britain) reported.

"We're waiting for the results to make decisions but there will be sanctions against those who have committed these serious professional mistakes," the prime minister said.

The wildfire that began Wednesday has scorched nearly 2,475 acres of scrubland and forced hundreds of area residents to be evacuated from their homes.

The fire also left seven members of police and firefighting squads injured before it was finally brought under control Thursday.

The Guardian said Fillon insisted stricter regulations would be put into place to prevent similar military mistakes from occurring in the future.