Following strong gusts and drought, the risk of fire is increasing in the south of France. One department is particularly on alert this week.
If temperatures have started to drop again this week, the authorities are calling for vigilance until Friday in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The risk of fire is high because of the tramontane, a western Mediterranean wind, and the persistent drought. Gusts up to 80 mph could wreak havoc. The department has also been affected by an unprecedented drought for two years. The fire risk was raised to level 4 out of 5 according to France Bleu, or even 5 out of 5 in certain areas.
In the department, 160 firefighters are currently available to put out the flames, a little less than in summer but more than usual during this period. The risk is higher on the rocky coast such as in the piedmont of Aspres and the Têt valley. Any activity which could carry risks of fire is then prohibited. This week, for example, it is forbidden to burn plants.
According to News, a first fire outbreak has already been reported this Tuesday, April 16 in the region between Perpignan and Villeneuve-de-la-Raho. It broke out shortly before 5 p.m. near Chemin du Mas Palegry. 80 firefighters were mobilized. The fire was brought under control around 6:30 p.m. Two hectares of wasteland were damaged.
On April 16, 2023, the Pyrénées-Orientales had already been victims of a violent fire in the town of Cerbère: 930 hectares had been ravaged by the flames. The authorities are doing everything they can to prevent this from happening again. The summer fire season is also expected to start earlier this year, from the beginning of June, given the drought.
