Benjamin Peter 4:27 p.m., June 29, 2022

An impressive fire broke out in the Pyrénées-Orientales on Tuesday evening, ravaging nearly 1,000 hectares of vegetation between the municipalities of Opoul-Perillos and Salses-le-Château.

A total of 350 firefighters were deployed, including reinforcements from other departments of Occitania, as well as Bouches-du-Rhône and Var.

The inhabitants are convinced: the fire was of criminal origin. 

REPORTAGE

In Opoul, in the north of the Pyrénées-Orientales, a fire ravaged more than 1,000 hectares in a few hours.

The fire no longer threatens "any home", said the firefighters who remain "vigilant" for fear that the wind will turn and strengthen in the afternoon.

The inhabitants are convinced: the fire was of criminal origin. 

"It's very hard for everyone"

Christian and his wife spent the night in the multipurpose room, like around thirty people evacuated from the Bois des Pins campsite.

They watched the fire progress all day yesterday.

"At the stroke of noon, we were doing our shopping. We said: 'here, it's burning'. And in the space of a quarter of an hour, the whole hill was on fire. Very quickly, we couldn't see anything", explains Christian on Europe 1. Sandrine, she lives on the edge of the pines.

She too was evacuated.

"Ten minutes before we left, the fire arrived here. We had to leave," she confides.

She was able to return home around 11 p.m. that night, but was unable to sleep.

"I have four children. The youngest is twelve years old. She was still crying at midnight because she saw fire and she saw smoke. And it's true that it was mainly for them that we was the most scared. I hope if it's someone who started the fire, we can catch him, because it's very hard for everyone."

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"How many years will it take for it to resume?"

Even before the investigations, here, no one doubts it: the fire is of criminal origin.

Louis does not hide his anger.

"Six fires starting at the same time, for me there is no doubt, it is of criminal origin", he affirms on Europe 1. "They do not know what they have done, the damage that's been done. How many years will it take for it to start again? And I'm very angry. It's lamentable."

This Wednesday morning, holidaymakers were able to return to their mobile homes.

A helicopter made reconnaissance to allow the redeployment of the firefighters who hope to succeed in fixing the entire fire before the wind resumes.