A large force has been mobilized since late afternoon to try to extinguish the flames. The drought-stricken department had been placed on red alert for the risk of forest fires.
A major fire devastated Pyrénées-Orientales this Saturday, August 24, when the department was placed on red alert for the risk of forest fires. A campsite and several homes near the fire had to be evacuated as a precaution.
The wildfire broke out late in the afternoon between the villages of Villelongue-dels-Monts and Saint-Génis in the southern Pyrénées-Orientales, threatening residential areas. “Efforts are currently focused on the protection of several sensitive points located in the axis of the fire, including a campsite in the town of Saint-Génis and a housing complex that includes several homes,” the fire department said in a press release. The “municipal protection plan was activated” in the two municipalities, prompting the evacuation of residents and tourists, who were directed to the municipal halls.
340 firefighters, 7 Canadairs, 2 helicopters, 2 bombers
The blaze that broke out at 5.16pm “was fueled by southerly wind gusts reaching 60km/h”, and would have burned around ten hectares in the space of an hour, according to firefighters. At the end of the day, the fire, still burning, had mobilized a workforce of 340 firefighters, seven Canadairs, two helicopters and two bombers.
\ud83d\udd25 In the Pyrénées-Orientales, a large fire broke out in Villelongue-dels-Monts. Rapidly progressing below 35°C and strong wind. (\u00a9 Josiane Torrano) pic.twitter.com/bBKTrm3Yx6
— Meteo Express (@MeteoExpress) August 24, 2024
\ud83d\udd34 A major fire outbreak is reported in Villelongue-Dels-Monts in Pyrénées-Orientales (66). Firefighters from @SDIS66 they are engaged. More sensitive points threatened.
\ud83d\udcf8 F. Lasik pic.twitter.com/Ub5ihmtkK4— Forest Fires (@FeuxdeForet_FR) August 24, 2024
\ud83d\udd25 110 hectares were covered by#Fire between Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines and Villelongue-dels-Monts in the Pyrénées-Orientales [66]
\u00a9\ufe0f Christophe Gault
\ud83d\udc49 To follow its progress live, visit our website: https://t.co/DQTy0cmtme pic.twitter.com/648kp982ri
— Association for Forest Fire Prevention and Reporting (@asso_psfdf) August 24, 2024
The drought-stricken department was placed on red alert for the risk of forest fires by Météo-France on Friday for Saturday, a maximum level reached for the first time in France since the start of the summer.
A fire broke out in the seaside resort of Canet-en-Roussillon overnight Sunday, prompting the evacuation of 3,000 residents from a campsite 100 meters south of the blaze.