A strong tramontane has been blowing since Tuesday in the Pyrénées-Orientales. These gusts, which can exceed 100 km/h, worsen the risk of fire in a department plagued by a historic drought for two years.
On Tuesday, a fire broke out near Perpignan. Quickly contained, it consumed only two hectares of vegetation and mobilized 80 firefighters. Nothing to do, fortunately, with the fire which had burned 930 hectares a year earlier, almost to the day, in Cerbère. But conditions are still ripe for a fire that could be just as devastating.
“The Cerberus fire originated from prohibited burning. The Tramontane event scheduled until Friday offers identical weather conditions, firefighters say. We remind you that all eco-burning is highly regulated and prohibited with winds above 40 km/h. We are counting on your vigilance during this windy episode to ensure the protection of our territory. »
Level 4 fire risk
The risk of fire is almost at its highest in all of the Pyrénées-Orientales: it is 4 on a scale of 5 maximum. The Vermeille coast, where the wind is particularly violent, is subject to special monitoring.