Traditionally, the summer season is conducive to forest fires. The summer of 2020, when very high drought levels are reached in several departments, is no exception.
Two days after the fire which devastated 165 hectares in Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), two major fires broke out on Saturday afternoon, in Ardèche and Gard. The authorities fear new fires this Sunday, still marked by high temperatures in several departments.
Ardèche: fire "fixed" on Saturday evening
The fire which mobilized some 300 firefighters, supported by 4 Canadair, and which threatened homes near Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay (Ardèche), was "fixed" Saturday evening, said the prefecture. "Fixed" means that the fire "is no longer progressing", indicated to Parisian Grégory Allione, president of the National Federation of firefighters of France (FNSPF), last summer. This is the first step in extinguishing a fire.
Some 70 hectares of forest were destroyed and 15 homes evacuated in the early evening "as a preventive measure because of the smoke," said the prefecture of Ardèche. The evacuated inhabitants were accommodated in the village hall and were able to return to their homes around 9 p.m.
#FeuDeForet | Saint-Marcel-Les-Annonay # Ardèche | 15 homes evacuated. The occupants are gathered in the multipurpose room of the town and should return to their accommodation in the coming hours. 60 hectares covered by flames.
- Prefect of Ardèche (@ Prefet07) August 1, 2020The fire being "fixed", firefighters nevertheless remained overnight on the scene to treat the hot spots, added the prefecture.
The disaster is probably due to the high temperatures and the drought that reign in this department, still placed in orange heat wave vigilance by Météo France. Several fires started on Saturday evening, without causing damage, caused by thunderstorms which hit the department.
Gard: fire "under control"
More than 30 hectares of vegetation went up in smoke in the Gard, between Milhaud and Nîmes, and the fire was "under control" around 8 pm Saturday evening, reports France Bleu. This is the second stage in the extinction of a forest fire, when the most important flames are extinguished thanks to the action of the firefighters.
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The fire broke out in the afternoon on the edge of the A9 motorway and it progressed towards the Saint-Césaire sector. A shed was hit by the flames, reports Le Midi Libre.
# Nîmes Saint Césaire the fire remains virulent according to the sectors 🔴 pic.twitter.com/6T7F0cGOKE
- Midi Libre Nîmes (@MidiLibreNimes) August 1, 2020Four of the 200 firefighters who responded were injured. One of them had to be hospitalized, but his condition is not worrying.
If the origin of the flames is not yet established with certainty, the investigation is moving towards the voluntary track since there would have been three starts of fire at the origin of the fire, according to France Bleu.
Another fire in the Gard ravaged more than 20 hectares between Wednesday and Thursday.
Maximum alert this Sunday
The prefectures of several departments have warned the population of a very significant risk of fire this Sunday. This is the case in Aude and Gironde, in particular.
🌲🔥 The #Gironde is maintained in #VigilanceOrange (level 3 - high) for the # forest fire risk until Sunday included.
The Prefect calls for everyone's vigilance and responsibility.
Did you witness the start of a fire?
☎ Call 18 or 112. pic.twitter.com/PyQoEBCyzF
On the other hand, only two departments (Ardèche and Drôme) were kept in orange heat wave vigilance by Météo France, while there were thirteen on Saturday evening.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, for his part, provided "support (to) firefighters who are particularly mobilized in this period".