Fighting in the Pyrénées-Orientales to fight against the risk of fire. A vast preventive device type "summer" is triggered since yesterday by the authorities because of the level Forest fires "very severe risk" reached and the strong winds that are currently blowing on the department. "This device will increase in strength, warns Colonel Eric Belgioïno, director of Sdis 66. It will be at maximum capacity on Wednesday, and possibly maintained on Thursday. »
On the ground, this general mobilization will result in watchtowers throughout the department as well as reinforced ONF patrols in the massifs. "The land control capabilities of Sdis 66 will also be reinforced with 50 to 100 pre-deployed firefighters. We are also expecting a column of 60 firefighters from Aude, Ariège and Hérault. They will stay until Wednesday night. »
See alsoFires: is the France ready to face next summer's forest fires?
In terms of air assets, the State is also sending reinforcements with the arrival in the area on Monday afternoon of a water bomber helicopter. "The objective is to be able to attack the incipient fires as quickly as possible," continues the director of the departmental Sdis. Five Canadair and three Dash, based in Nîmes, are ready to intervene in all 20 departments of the southern zone. Prevention always, with the activation of the Groupement Environnement Massif (Gem), made up of reservists of the gendarmerie to carry out patrols.
Better investigate fire outbreaks
For his part, the prosecutor of the Republic of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Jean-David Cavaillé, recalls that human interactions are the main causes of fires and "that the Penal Code provides for significant penalties, even in case of unintentional arson. " The magistrate announces that a local group to deal with investigations related to the fires will be set up in early June. "Its mission will be to work on the start of fires and to be more effective in identifying its perpetrators."
" READ ALSO Fire "fixed", "controlled", "extinguished": while a fire has ravaged the Gard, what does the jargon of firefighters mean?
For the prefect Rodrigue Furcy, given the meteorological indicators, "it would be incomprehensible that there are, for example, scrubbing, or cigarette butts thrown out of the windows. Given the situation, it is absolutely not necessary to clear brush this week (because of the risk of sparks, Editor's note), even if it is normally a legal obligation. "
Since the beginning of the year, the Pyrénées-Orientales have already experienced five major fires, the most devastating being that of Cerbère and its nearly 1,000 hectares burned.
