Fires: how the Gironde is preparing for a potentially risky summer

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FRANCE 2

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J.Debraux, A.Malesson, A.Hanquet, E.Pelletier, P.Wursthorn, J.Ababsa, France 3 Regions, Y.Kadouch – France 2

France Televisions

The drought already hitting a large part of the country, Tuesday, April 18, the risk of fires is very important for the summer. After the devastation of 2022 in the South-East and in Gironde, how is France preparing to avoid the worst?

Fighting firefighters in deep in the forest, to repel flames approaching the village. These moments of panic experienced during the summer of 2022, the town of Saint-Symphorien, in Gironde, is doing everything to never experience them again. On a plot of one kilometer long and 50 meters wide, the municipality has set up a firewall, intended to limit the spread of fire.

The capacities of firefighters strengthened

Several firewalls of this type were built during the week in Gironde. Their effectiveness is still limited. “Firewalls are part of the answer, but not a silver bullet either.”explains Jean-Luc Gleizepresident of the department of Gironde and SDIS 33. Faced with the drought and the threat of new fires, the capacities of the department’s firefighters will be reinforced, with an aircraft Dash4 Air Tow2 Canadair mobilized and an additional civil security unit.


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