Two fires have been ravaging the Gironde department since Tuesday July 12, while it is classified as orange vigilance in the heat wave by Météo France. 1,300 hectares have already gone up in smoke.
Devastating fires. In Gironde, the flames are added to the scorching heat in the south of the department and near the Arcachon basin. The firefighters fought all night and this Wednesday morning, July 13, South West reports a total of more than 1,300 hectares burned.
6,000 campers evacuated
At La Teste, the wind did not favor the firefighters. The Sdis reports 445 hectares gone up in smoke but also a “preventive evacuation” of five campsites which are not far from the Dune du Pilat. In total, 6,000 people were evacuated.
The other, even larger fire has already ravaged 900 hectares and is taking place in Landiras and Guillos, in the south of the department. It is “neither fixed nor mastered“, indicate the firefighters in South West this Wednesday morning.
Firefighters from Hérault were sent as reinforcements overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. 80 firefighters and 20 vehicles were mobilized to support the firefighters already on site.
Department in orange vigilance
The Gironde is one of the seven French departments which were placed in orange vigilance by Météo France this Tuesday, July 12. The high heat, added to the drought considerably increases the risk of fire.
Consequently, the prefecture of Gironde issued an order concerning the fires of July 14. “The firing of all fireworks is prohibited in the predominantly forest municipalities of the Gironde until Monday July 18, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. Only the firing of fireworks carried out on the water or in the direction of the water may be authorized by the mayors after risk analysis carried out with the support of the departmental fire and rescue service.
On the temperature side, “peaks of around 39°C are expected in the South-West this Wednesday afternoon”, indicates Météo France.