REPORTAGE
Dry ground, mistral and strong heat: vigilance is maximum around the risk of forest fires in the south-east of France. All the massifs of the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône are closed to residents and closely watched by firefighters. "The situation this morning is worrying because the weather cocktail for fires to develop is important", explains Captain Olivier Pécot, firefighter in the Var. "We are facing high temperatures."
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Monday and Tuesday are particularly at risk because the mistral will blow relatively hard in the Region. "This does not worry us too much", continues the captain. "But we are preparing for any eventuality since we are deploying a consequent preventive device on the ground to be faster on the outbreak of fire."
Reinforcements deployed on the ground
In the Bouches-du-Rhône, firefighters are also on the alert. The increased risk of fire requires significant resources. "About 1,000 firefighters are ready to fight against the outbreak of fire," said Captain Stéphane Guyot. Reinforcements arrive from other departments. Some firefighters are positioned in barracks and others, in groups of two trucks, deployed on the ground, near strategic points.
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A capacity for rapid action which often makes the difference, as during this fire outbreak in the countryside near Aix-en-Provence. "The electric pole made sparks, fallen to ground level. The fire quickly grew: 6,000 square meters", notes Lieutenant Michael Chaban. He arrived very quickly on the scene with his men to drown out the outbreak of fire. "It goes quickly, but fortunately we had a pre-positioned van which arrived on the scene very quickly. For me, three successive guards, three starts of fire."
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The summer promises to be risky and the Bouches-du-Rhône firefighters have already recorded 400 fire starts since the beginning of July. The majority of fires are often of accidental origin. The opportunity to remember the right actions, which seem obvious: do not throw cigarette butts from the window of your car, and avoid campfires or barbecues in risk areas.