In Les Sables-d’Olonne, the vegetation looks like straw and the town hall therefore takes no risk. The ban on access to the national forest of Olonne, in progress since Sunday, is extended until, at least, this Wednesday morning. Due to the exceptional heat of the last few days, 40°c on the Atlantic coast, the concern is permanent.
A first in Vendée
This is the first time in the Vendée department that such a decision is made. “We are hoping for rain soon” concedes Bertrand Lienardenvironmental officer at the town hall of Les Sables-d’Olonne. “In addition to the east wind blowing, the hydrometry level is currently 17% in the forest. Usually, we are around 40%.” These are rates comparable to those of the Gironde, where there are still violent fires.
For a month, not a drop has fallen: “To breathe, it would take between 15 and 20 millimeters of rain” notice Carl Remeaux, from the Office National des Forêts, in charge of the 1,200 hectares of the forest of Olonne. He is on duty from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. to prevent any outbreak of fire. Since the closure of the massif, the rule seems rather well respected: “We raise awareness, but overall people are aware of the risk. […] A badly extinguished cigarette or a barbecue can have dramatic consequences. In these cases, we verbalize.
135 euro fine
These basic firefighting rules are not only in effect during scorching heat waves like those of the past few days. A prefectural decree prohibits the use of fire in the forest in a period from April to September. Violators are exposed to a fine of 135 euros.