It’s published
French authorities and firefighters continue to take vigilance following the containment of the country’s biggest wildfire in decades, as the risk of rekindling the flames that tore through the southern Aude region this week.
Over three days, the fire burned more than 160 square kilometres of land in the famous wine-producing area, the Corbière Mountains. At least 21 people were injured, including one firefighter, and the flames burned in 15 communes, forcing hundreds to evacuate.
Officials said the fire boundary reached 90 kilometres before it was controlled. They also said another heat wave could push the temperature above 30°C, increasing the risk of flare-up.
As of Friday morning, area manager Christian Pougett said about 1,000 residents were still unable to return to their homes, with 36 properties being destroyed or severely damaged.
Aude County says that electricity remains in around 1,300 homes due to significant damage to infrastructure.
Emergency shelters have been set up in 17 municipalities to respond to shelters. Local officials urged residents not to return to affected areas without official clearance as many roads remain inaccessible and dangerous.
Tuchan Mayor Béatrice Bertrand spoke about the early hours of the crisis. “When the fire began on Tuesday, we learned that residents of the nearby village of Durban Corbière had arrived in Tuchan,” she told the Associated Press.
“We received and hosted over 200 people. We gave them food thanks to the local businesses that opened their stores despite being very late,” Bertrand said.
“Civil protection brought us beds, and local villagers provided their homes to welcome them. It was their first night here, and many were shocked and scared.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into the origins of the fire.
Agnaise Pannier Lanacher, French Minister of Ecological Transition, described the incident as the country’s most severe wildfire since 1949.
The French national fire service database has not existed since 2006, but the range and speed of Aude Blaze has surprised officials.
Southern Europe withstanded several major wildfires this summer due to prolonged droughts and rising temperatures.
Scientists have long warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of such events. Last month, a fire near Marseille, France’s second largest city, injured around 300 people.
According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Services, Europe is the fastest continent in the world, with temperatures rising twice the global average since the 1980s.
Additional sources •AP
