Le Figaro Nice
To discover
Follow all the news of the city of Nice
The firefighters were alerted, in the middle of the afternoon, of the start of a fire on the heights of Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes).
The first flames appeared in Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, at the level of the Napoleon road.
10 hectares have already burned, informs the Sdis of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Initially, eight machines and 21 firefighters were engaged.
But the system was quickly reinforced: 41 machines and 72 firefighters are currently fighting the flames.
Air assets support them.
strong winds
The climatic conditions do not help to contain the spread of the fire.
The department is placed on orange alert to strong winds.
Gusts exceed 150 km / h in places and especially in the reliefs.
At this stage, no dwelling is threatened, further specifies the Sdis.
But the fire is above the Grasse remand center.
"600 prisoners could be evacuated"
, explained the sub-prefecture to BFM Nice Côte d'Azur.
It could again be a question of the phenomena of "winter fires", linked to the water deficit at this time of the year.
The department will be placed on drought alert and an order with the first restrictions in the use of water will be taken in the coming days.