A wildfire broke out late on Saturday afternoon between the villages of Villelongue-dels-Monts and Saint-Génis, in southern Pyrénées-Orientales, threatening inhabited areas, mobilized a significant effect before being brought under control, according to a statement from presser. from the fire department released on Sunday.
“The system put in place by the firefighters, with important aerial and human resources, made it possible to control the fire, which covered 110 hectares and burned 32 hectares,” according to the prefecture.
“The rescue operations commander has sectored the areas, enabling precise treatment of the edges with the support of drones equipped with thermal cameras to identify hot spots,” firefighters said.
“This intensive work lasted throughout the night and will continue for part of the day on Sunday to treat the ground in depth to prevent any re-ignition of the fire,” the fire department added.
By the end of the day, the fire had mobilized a workforce of 340 firefighters, seven Canadairs, two helicopters and two water bombers, and 180 firefighters continued operations at nightfall.
The fire, which broke out at 5:16 p.m., was “fueled by southerly wind gusts reaching 60 km/h” and caused the hospitalization of two injured firefighters while two police officers were slightly injured, the fire department said.
A housing complex and campsite under threat
There were residential areas near the fire, including a campground and housing complex that were located in the center of the fire.
“The municipal protection plan has been activated” in the two municipalities, the firefighters indicated, causing the evacuation of twenty people “preventively for the time being”, according to the prefecture.
At the end of the evening, the Prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales had “taken charge” of the relief operations “and” a “COD (departmental operational center) was opened to coordinate the actions of the different actors that intervene on the ground. “, detailed the prefecture.