A major forest fire broke out early Wednesday afternoon in the town of Crots (Hautes-Alpes), report several witnesses as well as journalists present on the spot. On the images broadcast on social networks, we can see a large cloud of smoke escaping from a valley.
At least 90 firefighters are already on site, says La Provence, while the Dauphiné Libéré informs that reinforcements continue to arrive. According to these same sources, four Canadairs and a Dash 8 were deployed to lend a hand to ground rescue and try to at least fix the fire.
The fire reportedly broke out in the Boscodon forest, in the town of Crots, around 2 p.m. According to information from La Provence, the fire has covered 35 hectares of vegetation and has already destroyed several houses. The local newspaper adds that the entire hamlet of Bois, located in Crots and which has about twenty inhabitants, has been evacuated.
“We asked for reinforcement columns from other departments”
The gendarmes also blocked the road which gives access to the abbey of Boscodon, classified as a historical monument and often visited. The latter was evacuated.
Marcel Cannat, president of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of the Hautes-Alpes, accused the blow to our colleagues from La Provence, while another fire has just hit the department. “Our firefighters are already exhausted by the Chanousse fire, many of our resources are still concentrated there. We asked for reinforcement columns from other departments, including in terms of command, ”he warns.
