The fire that broke out late Saturday morning in the mountain of Alaric in Aude on the central median of the A61 between the municipalities of Moux and Foncouverte is now under control.
The fire was probably started because of a badly extinguished cigarette butt, according to firefighters.
It devastated nearly 850 hectares of vegetation due to the wind, which was blowing around 40 km / h, and very dry vegetation.
“After a weekend of struggle, the fire is set.
The flooding of the edges continues, ”explains Civil Security.
🔥🌲 # FeudeForêt in #Moux (Aude): after a weekend of struggle, the fire is fixed.
The flooding of the edges continues.
At the height of the intervention:
🧑🚒930 firefighters and 96 rescuers mobilized
🛩️209 drops carried out by the water bomber helicopter and the 9 planes pic.twitter.com/3zRUEYbPz9
- Civil Security (@SecCivileFrance) July 26, 2021
However, according to the Departmental Fire and Rescue Operational Center (Codis), "more than 1,500 hectares of vegetation have been preserved over the whole of this massif" and "about thirty houses" have been protected from the flames thanks to the intervention of the firefighters, even if a house was partially burnt down in the Moux sector.
This fire also had consequences on the Iberian Peninsula, since, in addition to power cuts around Perpignan and Biarritz, homes were also cut in Spain and Portugal, after the temporary decommissioning of a very high line. voltage.
At the height of the fire, 900 personnel were activated on the ground, while seven Canadair, two water bombers and a Super Puma helicopter increased the rotations.
Even if this fire is now under control, 320 firefighters will remain in surveillance on the edges for several days, specified the Codis) of the Aude.
