Until May 17, the use of fire is strictly prohibited, in the Hérault, on land covered with forests, woods, plantations, moors, scrubland or maquis. That is to say, almost everywhere. The prefect, Hugues Moutouh, took this decision because of the exceptional drought conditions in the department, and “in view of the latest weather forecasts”, which do not announce any changes on the sky side.
In the department of Hérault, the burning of green waste (branches, foliage, herbs, etc.) in parks and gardens (lawn mowing waste, foliage, branches from hedge pruning, etc.) was already prohibited by the departmental health regulations. Any use of fire, detail the services of the State in a press release, exposes offenders to fines of up to €150,000, to the payment of heavy damages, as well as to prison sentences, in the event of of fire.
The prefecture also recalls that it is mandatory to clear the land, to prevent the spread of fires and facilitate the intervention of firefighters.