Several vegetation fires were reported throughout the Pyrénées-Orientales this Saturday, September 14. Between 2:50 p.m. and 8 p.m., the operators of the departmental fire and rescue service received 685 calls, report the department’s firefighters on X.
In total, several hundred firefighters were mobilized to deal with the various disasters this Saturday.
One person slightly injured
A first fire broke out around 2:50 p.m. in Ortaffa. Now extinguished, the fire mobilized 110 firefighters and covered three hectares. This fire affected four caravans that were not occupied. One person was also slightly injured, reports the SDIS of the Pyrénées-Orientales. She was taken to hospital.
A second fire, also now extinguished, broke out a few minutes later, at 3:11 p.m. in the town of Villelongue-dels-Monts. It covered three hectares and mobilized a hundred firefighters. In Rivesaltes, more than 150 firefighters were mobilized on a fire around 4:25 p.m. A water bombing helicopter made 16 drops, the SDIS said. The fire, which covered 16 hectares, was contained this Saturday evening. “Several sensitive points were defended,” the firefighters said.
The A9 motorway was closed in both directions. At 6:40 p.m., both directions of traffic were open to motorists again.
Finally, in Saint-Estève, around sixty firefighters were mobilised to fight a fire on the banks of the Têt at around 6:50 p.m. The flames covered 1 hectare.
In its press release, the SDIS of the Pyrénées-Orientales reports that “the situation remains worrying” this Sunday, September 15 “due to the persistent drought, the strong tramontane wind and rising temperatures”. In the department, three areas are at very severe risk: the Corbières, the Roussillon plain and the Albères.
Traffic bans
Two areas are at severe risk: Fenouillèdes and Aspres. The firefighters are calling on everyone to “be extremely vigilant”.
In the Corbières and the Roussillon plain, “the circulation of motor vehicles, on foot, on horseback and by bicycle is prohibited on unsurfaced tracks and paths within the affected massifs” this Sunday, September 15, announces the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales.
Traffic is also prohibited on the RD38 towards Força Real and the Périllos road. Finally, “risky work likely to cause sparks and the use of approved fire pits” are also prohibited.
This Thursday, September 12, a major fire had prompted the preventive evacuation of part of the village of Castelnou. It was brought under control on Friday after covering more than 400 hectares. In its press release, the SDIS of the department announced that the fire had been contained since this Saturday, September 14, 9:30 a.m.
- BFMTV.com
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