A bamboo fire is underway in Grande Montée, commune of Sainte-Marie. Firefighters are on the job, but local residents have to be evacuated while a house has been destroyed by the flames.
SG/AR
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Published on December 26, 2024 at 3:42 p.m.,
updated December 26, 2024 at 4:18 p.m.
A fire broke out on Thursday, December 26 in the Grande Montée district of Sainte-Marie, near the Yves Barau annex school. According to initial information, the fire started in a bamboo forest and spread to a house, destroyed by the flames.
Numerous firefighting engines were used by SDIS 974, but at least one house and an office were destroyed by the flames. Around 4 p.m., a water bomber helicopter was brought in as reinforcement
On site, explosions were heard, while a large plume of smoke was visible for kilometers around. According to neighbors, the fire started during the night.
A firefighter was injured during the intervention.
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©Amandine Rivière
Faced with the risk of the flames spreading, immediate residents had to be evacuated from their homes. Some people watered their homes to protect them.
According to initial information, it could be a resumption of a fire that broke out during the night, possibly due to fireworks set off around midnight.
The commune of Sainte-Marie is one of the most affected currently by the drought phenomenon which is hitting Reunion Island. It is considered in “crisis” both in terms of groundwater and surface water, which justifies the measures restricting the use of water imposed by the prefecture since December 19.
