It was a barbecue organized on Wednesday January 1 by campers at Petite Rivière Bleue which caused the fire, despite an order prohibiting all fires in the town. A disaster which could be brought under control in the evening according to Civil Security.
The fire which has been ravaging the Prony plain in Mont-Dore for three days should be brought under control on the evening of Saturday January 4. Firefighters managed to contain the flames. Since Thursday January 2, the teams have reorganized their strategy every day depending on the weather conditions. Among their priority objectives, that of saving the neighboring forests, which are still intact.
The mayor of Mont-Dore is present every day alongside the teams to communicate his priorities to them, in particular, that of protecting neighboring vegetation. “The firefighters maintained their attention on the entire fire, particularly these forests, which were nevertheless a little affected”assures Eddie Lecourieux.
Last night was cool, with even a little rain making the teams’ work easier. During the morning of Saturday January 4, there were still around thirty men mobilized, twelve machines and two water bomber helicopters. The affected area has several natural water points.
The soil, very specific to the Deep South, sometimes requires several helicopter passes. Drones are also essential for spotting hot spots. These aerial means are combined with tactical burning to save hectares of vegetation sheltering numerous protected species.
When there are vegetation fires, you have to act quickly. “If we send water bomber helicopters as well as ground teams in sufficient numbers quickly, on a scale across our territory, we will be able to contain the fire within 48 hours”says Captain Laurent Thomas, commander of Civil Security relief operations.
The official toll would still be 1000 hectares affected. A figure that still needs to be refined. Thanks to the numerous watercourses, several patches of vegetation would not have been affected, according to the firefighters.
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