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Forest fires spring up across France as dry weather persists
Several southern departments remain at heightened risk of blazes today
France’s summer of wildfire woes is not yet over, as several new blazes have sprung up since the start of the week.
Fires in Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, Drôme and Gard all remain ongoing this morning (Tuesday September 22), with hundreds of firefighters tackling the blazes.
A fire on the outskirts of Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales) was put out yesterday after burning around 35 hectares. The D914 and some rail lines were temporarily closed due to the blaze.
A blaze in Mauléon-d’Armagnac (Gers) that started yesterday was also quickly put out after dozens of firefighters arrived at the scene. The fire only destroyed 1.5 hectares, but sprung up in a field of highly-flammable young pine trees and there were concerns of a rapid spread.
It comes as this week’s weather forecast – calm, warm, and very dry – provides prime conditions for late-season fires.
State forecaster Météo France continues to issue its forest fire risk map until the end of September, and today has nine departments on an orange risk alert, the second-highest level.
By Wednesday, this drops to only two departments, however most of the south and west remains facing some form of forest fire risk.
Check map for live fires
Ongoing fires this morning include La Barde (Charente-Maritime), Saint-Mesmin (Dordogne), Montclar-sur-Gervanne (Drôme) and Générac (Gard).
In the latter, dozens of firefighters are accompanied by five anti-fire aircraft, with at least 20 hectares burned so far.
A map of live fires can be found on feuxdeforet.fr and a map below shows blazes as of 09:00.
Red blazes that are flashing indicate an ongoing wildfire, and if static means it is under control (fixé) but not yet put out, orange indicates those that have been reported but not confirmed, and black are those recently extinguished.
This year has been record-breaking for wildfires in France, burning well over 100,000 hectares already and seeing the second-largest blaze to hit the country since records began.
In the wake of the blazes authorities have been cracking down hard on arsonists, arresting hundreds and handing down serious sentences to those found guilty of starting wildfires.
This includes a 12-year sentence for a Charente man convicted of starting 32 fires – all outside of this year’s blazes – and a five-year sentence for a Pyrénées-Orientales man who started four fires this summer.
A recent call for easier visa access for non-EU second home-owners to help them prepare properties against summer wildfire risks has been made by Les Républicains senator Lauriane Josende, who represents the Pyrénées-Orientales department.
