a fire patrol watches over the massifs

Every day, they take turns and walk tens of kilometers of road. In the Var massifs, aboard their vehicle, Nathalie Grizard and Alain Saquet watch for the slightest trace of a fire starting. “This year is a bit special, we really have severe drought conditions. We have conditions that we should have at the end of August compared to usual”, she explains. Faced with extreme conditions, you have to be reactive and ready to put out any flames before they get bigger. The equipment is tested during each patrol, to intervene at any time. On the road, volunteers sometimes meet walkers. Today access to the massif is not recommended, but not prohibited.

This is an opportunity to dictate the right actions to adopt, because a reminder is sometimes necessary. “I didn’t know you couldn’t smoke in the forest. It’s important because people are sometimes unconscious, so it would be nice to call them to order a little”, underlines a walker. In addition to prevention, the patrol’s mission is to guide firefighters in the event of a fire. From a tower, the patrol has a panoramic view which allows it to monitor the massifs. Tomorrow again, volunteers will have to be vigilant. All the massifs of the Var are classified orange. Access is strongly discouraged and the risk of fire very high.