Several hundred hectares of pine forest burned on Monday in a fire that affected three municipalities in the Pyrénées-Orientales, including Argelès-sur-Mer, notably causing the evacuation of several campsites, we learned from the prefecture. The fire also affects the towns of Saint-André and Palau-del-Vidre, also located about twenty kilometers southeast of Perpignan.
Some 550 firefighters, including 150 from the department, were mobilised, along with eight Canadair planes, three Dash planes, three water bomber helicopters and two reconnaissance and coordination planes.
“A very violent fire is underway in the Pyrénées-Orientales. I call on the population and holidaymakers to be extremely vigilant, ”wrote Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, on X (ex Twitter).