• The lights are not fixed but around 3,000 people will be able to return to their homes this evening in the Pyla-sur-Mer district, in La Teste-de-Buch.

  • The reintegrations will be done gradually according to the evolution of the weather conditions.

  • Firefighters are carrying out important work to drown any recovery and protect sensitive points.

It is a relief for the inhabitants concerned who will be able to return home.

If the two fires which destroyed 20,800 hectares of forest in Gironde are "not fixed", a large part of the inhabitants evacuated Monday from Pyla-sur-Mer in the Arcachon basin, will be able to return to their homes at the end of afternoon, authorities said Thursday.

"It's less spectacular but the lights are not fixed, nor extinguished," said the prefect of New Aquitaine Fabienne Buccio during a press briefing.

However, some "3,000 people" from Pyla-sur-Mer, or "three quarters" of the inhabitants of this district of La Teste-de-Buch will be able to return to their homes "from 5 p.m.".

Only those who live above departmental 218, located north of the Dune du Pilat, are concerned.

“To reintegrate the populations, we still need a little patience, a few days at least”, warned Fabienne Buccio.

In total, 36,750 residents and holidaymakers had to urgently leave the La Teste-de-Buch and Landiras sectors for 10 days.

“The fires are no longer progressing, there is no longer a front of fire, this wall of flames which [advances] under the effect of the wind and which creates swings of fire”, let it be known in the morning the lieutenant- Colonel Arnaud Mendousse of Sdis 33.

Fight against takeovers

However, "we do not consider that the fire is fixed because we are not yet certain that a significant recovery will not restart the fire and its progression", he added before assuring that both lights are considered “contained”.

On the passage of the blaze there are still "smokers", incandescent hot spots which smoke and which can cause resumption of fire if they are not cooled.

The firefighters and foresters continued their work of "protecting sensitive points", in particular through the creation and consolidation of firewalls - long strips of shaved earth leaving only the sand to be seen - and the treatment of the edges .

Securing the destroyed campsites is also continuing to "recover all the gas bottles" present in the rubble, according to the prefecture.

Thursday, 2,000 firefighters are still mobilized, supported by four Canadair, whose number in rotation has decreased in recent hours, two Dash and a PUMA water bomber helicopter from Civil Security.

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