The list of summer 2022 fires continues to grow. In recent days, while France is experiencing a new heat wave, wildfires have broken out in various places in France. From Isère to Maine-et-Loire via Aveyron, we take stock.
1,000 ha of forest burnt in Gironde
At least 1,000 ha of pines were destroyed on Tuesday in the south of Gironde by several outbreaks of fire from the gigantic Landiras fire in July, leading to the evacuation of more than 3,500 inhabitants of Hostens, Belin-Beliet and Saint- Magne according to the prefecture. “Thanks to unfavorable weather conditions, renewed fires are observed near Landiras” in the sectors of “Cabanac, Hostens, Saint-Magne”, indicated in a tweet the prefecture of Gironde.
Continuation of the fire in the Drôme
The forest and vegetation fire which broke out on Friday evening in the Drôme ravaged 220 ha and “continues to progress”, the prefecture said on Tuesday evening. Three sectors are particularly monitored by the approximately 280 firefighters who will be engaged Tuesday evening in the field: the northern sector, the southern sector and the western sector towards the village of Romeyer.
More than 3,000 residents evacuated in Lozère and Aveyron
Near the Gorges du Tarn, the situation is still very delicate. The fire which broke out at the end of the day on Monday in Massegros (Lozère), has already covered 700 ha and affected the neighboring department of Aveyron. But this Tuesday, at midday, the fire fanned by the wind and the drought was no longer progressing. It was not yet under control at the start of the night. At the end of the day, the Aveyron prefecture warned that the 3,000 evacuees could not return to their homes or their vacation accommodations.
According to Colonel Souyris, from Sdis de l’Aveyron, the progression of the fire depends on fairly unfavorable weather and particularly inaccessible terrain. While Météo France has updated its heat wave map: 18 departments have been placed on orange alert. Yesterday “three canadairs and two dash planes were deployed in the area and remained until late at night,” said the firefighter. The firefighters, up to 600 at the height of the mobilization, estimate that they will need another three days to put out the fire. “Two of them were injured,” added Colonel Souyris.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin is expected on Wednesday at the scene of the fire. The farmer driving the tractor that caused the fire himself called for help, before using water from his tank to fight the flames, and calling several farmers to help.
Ongoing fire in Charente
A fire, which broke out on Monday evening in the south of Charente, was still “developing” on Tuesday, announced the prefecture of the department which received reinforcements from several departments. It has already destroyed 150 ha of forests according to a report drawn up at 8 am. At midday, she said the spread of the fire was “limited”.
“Nearly 30 people have been evacuated,” said the prefecture in a situation update released by press release. More than 220 firefighters are mobilized to put out this fire in the town of Boisbreteau, bordering Charente-Maritime, and “air resources – water bomber helicopter and Canadair – are expected” as reinforcements in the morning, added the prefecture. .
About 200 homes were without electricity after two high-voltage lines were cut by Enedis, the network manager, according to the same source.
600 ha gone up in smoke in Maine-et-Loire
Also in the West, a fire is underway in Maine-et-Loire, on the border with Sarthe, in the wooded area of the Pugle forest. Monday evening, 170 ha of vegetation had already been affected. The balance sheet rose to 620 ha this Tuesday morning, according to the prefecture of the department. The same source specifies, in a press release, that more than 300 firefighters are engaged. Fifty people had to be evacuated. According to a press release, 500 ha of vegetation are also threatened by the flames.
Shells dating from the First World War were buried in the area and some of them may have exploded, firefighters told AFP. According to the Codis, the area being “perfectly controlled and known to the authorities”, these shells and these explosions do not however represent any danger.
Situation stabilized in Isère
After more than three days, the fire which broke out on Friday evening in the Chartreuse massif (Isère) has finally stabilized. It did not progress overnight from Monday to Tuesday, but it is not yet fixed, said the prefecture. In all, a hundred hectares went up in ashes. At least 140 people were evacuated preventively and nearly 300 firefighters were still at work on Tuesday morning.
With already more than 47,000 ha burned since the beginning of the year, France experienced, in July, a record of burned areas, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), which keeps statistics comparable since 2006.