These two fires, which broke out on July 12 in the afternoon, burned nearly 21,000 hectares of forest, or about twice the area of intramural Paris.
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The Gironde breathes a little better. The situation continues to improve on the front of the two major forest fires which broke out on July 12 in La Teste-de-Buch, in the Arcachon basin, and in Landiras, south of Bordeaux, assured Sunday July 24 the prefecture of the department. “Temperatures above 35°C (Sunday) caused the appearance of fumaroles and fire outbreaks in the burnt area which were treated by the 1,200 firefighters and air resources still mobilized on the ground”two Canadairs and two forest fire attack helicopters, explained the prefecture in a press release.
“These phenomena should decrease (Monday) with the announced drop in temperatures”, she added. The resumptions of fire were caused by “heat, wind and lower humidity” (humidity), said the firefighters of Gironde.
Since Saturday, the fire in La Teste-de-Buch has been considered by the authorities as “fixed”contrary to that of Landiras which nevertheless remains “contents”. These two fires burned nearly 21,000 hectares of forest, about twice the area of intramural Paris. They did not cause any casualties, but forced more than 36,000 people to leave their accommodation, including 6,000 holidaymakers evacuated from the five campsites on the Dune du Pilat which were then destroyed by the flames.
The vast majority of these displaced have been able to return home in recent days, but a few thousand people evacuated from the Landiras sector have not yet been able to do so. “No new authorization could be granted (Sunday) to allow the evacuees to return to their homes. The authorities are continuing to study the situation, sector by sector”, assured the prefecture. In La Teste, the tourist site of the Dune du Pilat is still inaccessible, according to the prefecture. The prefect of Gironde, Fabienne Buccio, must bring together elected officials and economic actors from the two disaster areas on Monday to “preparing for the exit from the economic crisis”.