The ongoing fire in the Médocin Saumos, near Lacanau, increased sharply during the night of Monday September 12 to Tuesday September 13, going from 400 hectares to nearly 1,300 hectares, indicates the prefecture of Gironde on Tuesday morning.
fire #Saumos
The fire is still active:
➡️ 1800 ha burnt
➡️ 700 firefighters mobilized
➡️ reinforced air resources (3 Canadair + 2 Dash + 3 helicopters + 1 Beech)
➡️ Evacuation of a dozen houses in a place called Le Beillon + equestrian center in progress.
Avoid the area pic.twitter.com/gI7a2r8xZi– Prefect of New Aquitaine and Gironde (@PrefAquitaine33) September 13, 2022
Four houses burned, adds the prefecture which advises “absolutely avoid the area“. 540 people, from Saumos and surrounding towns, were evacuated on the evening of Monday, September 12 and directed to neighboring towns.”Residents cannot return home at this time“, declared Tuesday the sub-prefect of Lesparre-Médoc, Fabrice Thibier, during a press briefing.
700 firefighters (from Gironde, Charente-Maritime and Lot-et-Garonne) are mobilized. 200 vehicles and air assets, including three Canadair, two Dash, a heavy water bomber helicopter and a light one, are deployed. An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the fire. The gendarmes of the Gironde evoke a possible criminal track.
“The fire is always evolving, it is not fixed, not mastered for the moment“, indicates Thomas Couturier, in charge of communication of the SDIS Gironde, Tuesday September 13 in the morning on franceinfo.That night the flames were fanned by the wind“, he explains, as firefighters fear another difficult day due to the weather forecast.
“We are once again facing weather that will be a little capricious with temperatures high enough for the season, not necessarily rain announced and gusts of wind that could arrive during the afternoon.
Thomas Couturier, SDIS Gironde communications officerat franceinfo
“We remain very vigilant and protect homes and residents as much as possible., summarizes the communication officer of the Gironde firefighters. “The Gironde is again hit by a forest fire. Full support for the department’s firefighters, reinforced by extra-departmental means, and civil security personnel engaged in the fight against this fire“, for his part reacted the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau.
The Gironde is again hit by a forest fire.
Full support for the department’s firefighters, reinforced by extra-departmental means, and for the personnel of the @SecCivileFrance engaged in the fight against this fire. Total solidarity with elected officials and residents. https://t.co/Rnfnj8gM6A— Marc Fesneau (@MFesneau) September 13, 2022