English-speaking community in southern France helps neighbours impacted by wildfires

An English-speaking community in southern France has come together to raise funds for neighbours who lost their homes in wildfires this summer. 

On July 4, a fire broke out in Trévillach (Pyrénées-Orientales), west of Perpignan, burning through almost 5,000 hectares of land. It was officially declared under control (fixé) on July 11.

Two fundraisers were set up by P-O Life Magazine, a regional English-language publication serving the Pyrénées-Orientales, after being contacted by Kaika Engels, a local Dutch resident who lost her home in the blaze. 

Ms Engels initially wanted to help out an elderly neighbour who "lost everything" in fires at his home both last year and this July. Upon realising that several other neighbours had also been impacted, a second GoFundMe page was created.

“The support has been very moving. Quite a few British people have supported the fundraiser after it was shared by P-O and I was surprised that people we don’t even know have helped us. It has been very heartwarming,” Ms Engels told The Connexion.

This solidarity was a welcome comfort for the neighbours after the traumatic experience of watching the fire advance towards their homes.

“We didn’t really know what was happening. It was badly managed and we were afraid. The fire was heading to the right towards Prades, but my plot is in the other direction, over the road, so we never thought it would reach us,” said Ms Engels. 

“This is the third time a fire has happened in exactly the same place but this time, as it crossed the road I just knew, this is it,” she added.

‘There is no escaping it’

“All the beautiful things I chose to surround myself with… I can't begin to evaluate all I've lost. ‘Everything’ is too small a word to describe 60 years of life. All that's left right now is a deep emptiness,” she wrote on Facebook in the days following the fire.

Almost three months after the fire, the initial attention and public support have begun to fade but the victims continue to come to terms with all they have lost, including personal possessions, family memories and several pets.  

One couple’s home of more than 20 years was destroyed, and a man lost years of hard work spent creating a food forest project and vegetable gardens.

“I keep coming back to try and clear up the plot. I’m sitting here at the gate now and every time I see it, it is so heartbreaking. But there is no escaping it and my philosophy is to stay positive,” said Ms Engels, who is staying in alternative accommodation in the centre of Ille-sur-Têt.

Ms Engels spent nearly four years building her house with 95% recycled materials and was almost self-sufficient in producing enough electricity and homegrown food.  

“I bought the plot in December 2020. I had a little stone shed and then I put some windows in, refurbished the shed and built a veranda and a kitchen on the side. There was a lot of light. It was very, very beautiful. 

“My aim was to be self-sufficient by the time I retire, but now I have to start over… I don’t think I’ll stay here. I’ll try to make the plot beautiful again so I can sell it at some point,” said Ms Engels.

Strength in community

Several members of the wider community have stepped in to offer physical help in the aftermath of the fire.

“I have one of my old Workawayers who has come back, a young girl that came here two years ago. She is here for a week. Today I think we want to bin some stuff from the vegetable garden,” said Ms Engels.

Victims have also received help through a series of chantiers participatifs - collaborative projects organised by Solidarité incendies PO 2026 where volunteers offer their time to assist in clearing rubble or rebuilding in the aftermath of the fires. 

“They are absolutely amazing. They have done, I think, 19 chantiers in different places, and two of them were at my place. It is a godsend because without them, I don’t know what I would do,” said Ms Engels. 

The fundraiser for the four neighbouring households remains open for anyone who would still like to help, with €3,726 raised at the time of writing.

“There is no single way to rebuild after losing almost everything, and we want the people affected to have the freedom to use the support where it is most needed,” reads the appeal. 

“Thank you for standing with this community during such a devastating time. Your kindness and compassion will help these neighbours take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives.”