Nearly 1,000 firefighters backed by water-dropping planes have been deployed to battle a massive blaze in France’s southern Gard region that burned 600 hectares (1,500 acres) and forced the evacuation of residents.  Local authorities said on Friday the wildfire had been brought under control but would take days to extinguish.  “Right now the situation is improving,” Gard department prefect Marie-Francoise Lecaillon told BFM television on Friday evening. “The fire has been contained. We must remain vigilant.”  Lt Col Eric Agrinier, a senior member of the fire service, also said on Friday: “This fire is far from being done. There are fronts in hard-to-reach areas that we haven’t tackled and that are advancing freely.”  “It’s going to be a feat of endurance,” he added later, pointing to unfavourable weather conditions.