The Quimper prosecutor’s office has opened two investigations into the fires that have ravaged the Breton moorland in the Arrée mountains (Finistère), one of which for “deliberate destruction by fire”he announced, Wednesday, July 20, in a press release.
The two fires are now fixed at around 95%, according to the Finistère prefecture. Triggered on Monday, these fires “are definitely of human origin”, et “the criminal nature of the fire affecting the Brennilis site” (Finistère) is “manifest due to the finding of two fire starts 30 meters apart”points out the prosecutor of Quimper, Carine Halley.
The first fire, the most important, started from Mont Saint-Michel in the town of Brasparts around 3:15 p.m. “spread rapidly over several hundred hectares of wasteland”, recalled the magistrate. A second fire then “was reported at 11:21 p.m. in the forest, at a place called Ploénez, in the town of Brennilis”.
Call for witnesses
According to the findings of the gendarmerie’s criminal identification technicians, “These two fires are definitely of human origin”, most “no link has been established to date between the two disasters”underlines the prosecutor.
Regarding the first fire, in Brasparts, the prosecution opened a criminal investigation, “the voluntary origin of the facts (…) not being sure”. On the other hand, a criminal investigation was opened for the second fire, in Brennilis, with the heads of “crime of willful destruction by burning of wood, forest, moors, maquis or plantation which may cause irreversible damage to the environment”.
“Anyone who has witnessed facts likely to be linked to these two fires is invited to contact the research brigade of the Châteaulin gendarmerie”underlines the prosecutor.
280 firefighters mobilized
These fires destroyed 1,725 hectares of moors and woods, according to the latest report from the Finistère prefecture. “The progression of the fire is slowing down and the situation is still under control”confirmed the prefecture on Twitter around 4 p.m. “A Dash water bomber plane has been made available by the prefect of the Brittany region” et “Three drops were made” since Wednesday morning, she said.
???? Update – #Brasparts fire The reinforcement of a Dash water bomber plane has been made available… https://t.co/QdeCtUk0ni
These drops have “allowed to fix a large part of the fire area”, or about 95% of the affected territory, said the prefecture in a press release a little later. Some 280 firefighters and 60 fire-fighting vehicles are still on site, according to the same source.
A total of 500 people had to be evacuated because of the fire which broke out in the town of Brasparts, in Finistère, in the heart of the Arrée mountains, in a natural site known for its biodiversity. The town of Botmeur was notably evacuated by the authorities. Accommodation centers have been set up in Sizun and Landivisiau.