180 firefighters are fighting this Tuesday evening July 12 against a fire in La Teste-de-Buch. 87 trucks are on site. “A lot of work has been done with the three water bomber planes which carried out about sixty drops before nightfall, which allowed the fire to be channeled on its original axis, from north to south. However, the situation is not yet favourable. The positive point is that no homes are threatened and, for the moment, no population displacement is necessary”, adds the commander.
The fire started this Tuesday afternoon around 3:15 p.m. when Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne had just been placed on orange vigilance for fires. An impressive cloud of smoke was visible from the ocean beaches and all around the Arcachon basin and even well beyond, it very quickly exceeded the heights of the Pilat dune.
The fire was visible from Ares, on the other side of the Arcachon basin.
Frank Perrogon
The fire broke out at runway 214, near Massoutan. This forest road, which leads in particular to the necropolis of the Senegalese, connects the Biscarrosse road which serves the ocean beaches to the D 112 which leads to Cazaux. It is commonly used as a relief route to avoid slowdowns near campsites and beaches.
It is an electrical problem that occurred in a car using this access that would have triggered the outbreak of fire.
“A long-term operation”
Ten fire companies were mobilized on the site, ie 180 firefighters who tried to deflect and slow the spread of the fire using 20 firefighting means. At the very end of the day, air resources intervened as reinforcements.
To fight against the fire of La Teste, large means have been committed.Sabine Menet
To fight against the fire of La Teste, large means have been committed.Sabine MENET
To fight against the fire of La Teste, large means have been committed.Sabine MENET
To fight against the fire of La Teste, large means have been committed.Sabine MENET
To fight against the fire of La Teste, large means have been committed.Sabine MENET
“The fire is developing in a dune sector that is difficult to access. This is why we are tightening our intervention on the fire front, using three water launchers. This is a risky intervention,” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Lacoste, from the command post set up near the necropolis.
Two firefighters taken ill
For his part, the sub-prefect of the arrondissement of Arcachon, Ronan Léaustic, wants to be reassuring. “There is no risk for the population. The situation is under control. “Patrick Davet, the mayor of La Teste-de-Buch, for his part, recalls his desire to close runway 214 to traffic during the summer period. “Here are the reasons why I want to do it…” he said.
“The fire is still evolving and not yet under control,” said Commander Dellac, firefighter officer in charge of communication, present on the site at 11 p.m. on Tuesday evening.