A violent fire broke out in the Pyrénées-Orientales this Thursday, September 12. Driven by the wind, flames threaten homes, evacuations are underway.
According to our colleagues from the Independenta fire broke out around 3 p.m., in the Eastern Pyrenees, near the village of Castelnou. At 4:30 p.m., 150 hectares had already burned in the Canigou massif; an hour later, the fire would have covered almost 400 hectares;
The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin announced at X that “it has just been decided to evacuate part of the village”. “To put out the fire, 300 firefighters are already involved, as well as 9 planes and 3 water bomber helicopters,” he states. A figure revised upwards at 5 p.m. 800 firefighters are putting out the blaze, according to AFP.
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A virulent fire has just broken out in the surrounding Pyrenees Orientales #Castellonu.
The evacuation of part of the village has just been decided.
To extinguish the fire, 300 firefighters are already involved, as well as 9 airplanes and 3 water-bombing helicopters. From…— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) September 12, 2024
For its part, the prefecture of Pyrénées-Orientales invites the public to avoid the Camélas, Castelnou, Montauriol, Caixas and Thuir sector.
According to meteorologist Guillaume Séchet, the tramontana would blow at almost 70 km/h in the area. The fire was moving towards another village, Montauriol, around 5 p.m., Ludovic Julia, chief of staff of the prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales, told AFP;
At the scene, traffic was stopped on a departmental road. Children attending schools in the area who were to return to these two villages were taken to a communal hall in Thuir town, according to the same source.
#inforoute66 #Fire
\ud83d\udd25 Fire in progress
\ud83d\udccd A major fire is ongoing in the area of the communes of Camélas, Castelnou, Montauriol, Caixas and Thuir in the Pyrénées-Orientales
\u274c RD48 Closed in both directions
\u274c RD2 closed in both directions pic.twitter.com/6zFwIRlww8— Department of Pyrénées-Orientales (@leDepartement66) September 12, 2024
This fire is taking place while the Pyrénées-Orientales are undergoing a severe drought for the third consecutive year.
Firefighters from Hérault will come to lend a helping hand to their colleagues from Pyrénées-Orientales.
The Independent the 6pm announcement that air resources are becoming more substantial. According to them, there is currently a helicopter from the Ariège gendarmerie, 5 Dash, 2 water bomber helicopters, 7 canadaires and 4 AirTractor.
The situation at 18:15.
“A major fire of 400 hectares is underway in the sector of the communes of Camélas, Castelnou, Montauriol, Caixas and Thuir in the Pyrénées-Orientales, 800 firefighters and 7 Canadians mobilized. Be careful, avoid the Pyrénées-Orientales sectors shortly after 18:00.
/DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITUATION/
\ud83d\udd25A major fire of 400 hectares is ongoing in the area of the communes of Camélas, Castelnou, Montauriol, Caixas and Thuir in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
\ud83d\udea8,800 firefighters and 7 mobilized Canadians.
\u274c Be careful,…
— Prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales (@Prefet66) September 12, 2024
According to France Bleu, a house was destroyed by fire “in the area of the fire”. Firefighters were injured, appropriately The Independent.