Fires in Gironde: new evacuations, more than 10,000 hectares ravaged

Europe 1 with AFP 7:27 p.m., July 16, 2022

The intense mobilization of firefighters does not weaken on Saturday to fix the fires in the south of France, and particularly in Gironde where new evacuations are in progress in the face of the advance of the flames which ravaged more than 10,000 hectares of forests, in a context of a generalized heat wave all weekend.

In the municipalities of Landiras and Guillos, in the south-east of the department, the situation is still "very unfavorable", with now "more than 7,000 hectares" gone up in smoke, the prefecture said on Twitter.

"More than 12,200" residents and vacationers have already had to leave the place

Due to the winds which push the fires towards the southwest, order was given at the beginning of the afternoon to proceed with the evacuation of the "bourg du Tuzan, the hamlet of Villagrain in the commune of Cabanac-et-Villagrain and, in the town of Hostens, the town and the nautical base".

“A few hundred people” are concerned, said for his part to AFP Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Mendousse, spokesman for the firefighters.

Since Tuesday, "more than 12,200" residents and vacationers have already had to leave the premises.

Five emergency accommodation centers and a medico-psychological emergency cell were opened to support the victims.

22 fire starts in five days

On the other front, at Teste-de-Buch, the efforts made have so far slowed the progression of the fire.

"We are still, and it is a satisfaction, at 3,150 hectares burned, but the fire is still not under control", declared in the morning to the press the sub-prefect of Arcachon Ronan Léaustic, who greeted the fire. "enormous intensity and mobilization" of the firefighters in the night "to keep this perimeter".

"Today, we are maintaining the head of fire, especially in the south, which prevents it from progressing towards the Landes but (...) we are not immune to a recovery", said detailed Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier Chavatte of the departmental fire and rescue service (Sdis).

"We have almost 30 kilometers of edge so it's a titanic job".

In 24 hours, the Sdis "had to face 22 departures of forest fires in the department of Gironde", pointed out the prefecture.

Hundreds of families evacuated

Around 4:00 p.m., the operation secured by the police, to allow the inhabitants of Cazaux to "recover and feed their animals", had to be interrupted due to "a fire on the road".

A large black plume rose again in the blue sky, noted AFP journalists on the spot.

Other outbreaks of fire have been reported in recent hours on the Lagune and Petit-Nice beaches, south of the Pilat dune, according to the mayor of Teste-de-Buch, Patrick Davet and the firefighters.

The day before, some 450 families had been able to recover their personal effects in the five campsites evacuated from this same sector.

Blackened beaches

In total, 1,200 firefighters are mobilized on Saturday on all fronts.

Five water bomber planes (3 Canadair and a Dash) are currently flying over the areas, according to Sdis.

Several voices of elected officials, including that of Jean-Luc Gleyze, PS president of the department and of SDIS 33, have risen to demand the "permanent" presence of these machines "in the largest resinous massif in Europe"

Similarly, "a large number of bulldozers" are also used to set up firebreaks (or clear cuts) in order to slow down and block the flames.

In addition, fallout from the smoke from the La Teste fire blackened the beaches of the Etang de Cazaux and Sanguinet, photographed and published by many people on social networks.

There is "no proven toxicity" and swimming "is therefore not prohibited", said the municipality of Biscarosse on Facebook.