Southern France is battling one of the most significant fires of the year, which erupted on the afternoon of August 18 in the Hérault department.
By late Monday, the fire was “contained but not extinguished,” according to Lieutenant-Colonel Jérôme Bonnafoux, spokesperson for the Hérault fire department. The blaze, which has scorched 350 hectares of pine forest, had stopped spreading but continued to pose challenges for firefighting efforts.
The fire originated near the village of Gigean, located 150 meters from the A9 freeway, and quickly spread toward the Gardiole mountains, a popular hiking area.
The fire destroyed an unoccupied dwelling but fortunately did not result in any injuries. The rapid spread of the fire, driven by strong winds, heat, and dry vegetation, reached a pace of 4 kilometers per hour, a speed described as “tremendous” by Bonnafoux.
In response to the escalating situation, nearly 600 firefighters were mobilized on Sunday. An additional 120 to 150 firefighters remained on duty overnight and into Tuesday to tackle numerous hot spots that continue to pose a risk of flare-ups.
The deployment also includes two drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to assist in identifying these critical hot spots for ground teams.
Hérault prefect François-Xavier Lauch, who visited the affected area in Frontignan, described the fire as “the biggest of the season in the department” and one of the most destructive in France this year. The fire in Hérault follows another significant blaze in June, which destroyed 600 hectares in the Var department.
Despite the severity of this incident, the summer of 2024 has seen relatively fewer fires compared to previous years.
Outgoing Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin highlighted that, as of late August, around 4,000 hectares have burned, a significant decrease from the 12,000 hectares at the same time last year. Darmanin emphasized that “nine out of 10 fires are caused by human activity,” underscoring the importance of public vigilance in preventing such incidents.
The situation this summer contrasts sharply with the catastrophic fire season of 2022, during which 60,000 hectares were consumed by flames.
Outgoing Minister for Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu noted the current summer as “relatively merciful” and urged citizens to remain vigilant in the coming weeks to minimize further damage to vegetation and ecosystems.
The response to the Hérault fire reflects the ongoing challenges faced by firefighting teams across France.
As they work to contain the blaze and mitigate the impact on the environment and local communities, the focus remains on preventing further spread and addressing the risks posed by persistent hot spots.
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