Europe 1 with AFP 10:24 a.m., June 29, 2022, modified at 10:25 a.m., June 29, 2022
“This morning at 7 a.m., we were at 1,080 hectares destroyed. The wind has calmed down, but it will turn, so we must remain vigilant”, declared the firefighters, specifying that “no dwelling is threatened” in this area located about twenty kilometers from Perpignan.
A total of 350 firefighters have been deployed since Tuesday.
The fire, which since Tuesday has ravaged more than 1,000 hectares of vegetation in the Pyrénées-Orientales, between Salses-le-Château and Opoul-Perillos, remained under surveillance Wednesday morning in fear of a resumption of the wind, a-t -we learned from the firefighters.
"This morning at 7 a.m., we were at 1,080 hectares destroyed. The wind has calmed down, but it will turn, so we must remain vigilant", declared the firefighters to AFP, specifying that "no dwelling is threatened" in this area located about twenty kilometers from Perpignan.
A total of 350 firefighters have been deployed since Tuesday, including reinforcements from other departments of Occitania, as well as Bouches-du-Rhône and Var to fight this fire, which did not cause any injuries.
Seven Canadair planes were also sent as reinforcements on Tuesday following this disaster, which prompted the evacuation of 300 people from Salses-le-Château, including 81 holidaymakers from the "Le Bois des pins" campsite accommodated in the multipurpose room.
"The Canadairs stopped at nightfall and we are going to take stock this morning to see if we need them again," said the same source on Wednesday.
The surroundings of the campsite, located in a pine forest, were protected and the facilities suffered no damage, noted an AFP photographer on the spot.
The A9 reopened
In addition, the prefecture announced early Wednesday morning on Twitter the reopening of the A9 motorway, closed as a precaution the day before between Leucate and Perpignan in both directions due to the proximity of the fire.
Fire of Opoul and Salses: Reopening of the #A9 motorway.
Thank you to the agents of @VINCIAutoroutes and those of @leDepartement66 who intervened to set up the diversions and manage the consequences of the fire on traffic https://t.co/MTh5Rivxcs
– Prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales (@Prefet66) June 29, 2022
Three other smaller fires, which broke out near Rivesaltes, as well as in Saint-Féliu d'Avall and Cases-de-Pène, were extinguished overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, also according to firefighters.