The spectacular fire that broke out on Thursday in the center of Anglet was brought under control overnight, the firefighters were told, who remain vigilant. In total, 100 hectares of pine forests were devastated by the flames, while seven homes were affected, three of which were completely destroyed.

Fanned by the wind, fed by the drought and the heat, a spectacular fire ravaged Thursday evening about 100 hectares of pine forest in the forest of Chiberta, in the center of Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), forcing the evacuation of many homes, at least seven of which were damaged. This fire of unknown origins, which broke out at the end of the afternoon, "is under control but it is complicated because we still have occasional occasions near the houses", announced to AFP the mayor of the Basque city, Claude Olive, Friday around 1 a.m.

The firefighters had to maintain "great vigilance all night long" in this wooded area of ​​over 250 hectares located in the city, between the Adour River and the Atlantic, and bordered in particular by a golf course and luxurious villas. At 3 a.m., a spokesperson for the prefecture told AFP that the fire had burned 100 hectares of forest and affected a total of 165 hectares, including the more or less affected urban areas. Seven houses were attacked by fire, three of which were completely burned down, said Vincent Nicolas.

6 inhabitants, 5 police officers and a firefighter taken care of

During the night, the ongoing operations still mobilized some 150 firefighters and 50 motorized vehicles, as well as 60 police officers and SAMU personnel, according to the prefecture. Firefighters from Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne and Landes lent a hand to their colleagues in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and new reinforcements from Haute-Garonne, Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées were to arrive. Two water bomber planes from Bordeaux had ceased their rotations at nightfall after making 18 drops, according to Civil Security.

According to the prefecture, the rescue teams allowed the hospital care of 6 inhabitants, 5 police officers and 1 firefighter. The secretary general of the prefecture Eddie Bouttera told the press that around 100 people had been evacuated. Some were to be accommodated in a gymnasium in the city, where camp beds were installed, and the Red Cross for its part set up a reception center where around thirty people were taken care of.