Of plot 375 of the national forest of Fontainebleau, in Seine et Marne, there is not much left. A fire broke out on June 18. “All these trees are doomed, explains Nicolas Laurent, head of the territorial unit of the forest of Fontainebleau for the National Office of Forests (ONF). They are doomed because their root system is affected by fire. In this forest, we meet mainly _ground level lights_. We know very few treetop fires as we currently know in the south of France.
The risk of departures from the Ile-de-France forests is low or medium. In Fontainebleau, the forest is rather dry, the risk is moderate. But it’s the frequentation which brings the most risk of fires. “You should know that nine out of ten fires are of human origin and who says man-made fires says that can be avoided, says Nicolas Laurent. In Fontainebleau we are talking about 15 million visitors per year. It is not negligible.”
Of the fire that broke out on plot 375, no one has found any traces that confirm that the fire is of human origin. “Nevertheless, we are on the edge of a walking path. At the top there are rocks which are rather rather pleasant to land on. So we can quite imagine a cigarette which has been thrown away, which has been badly extinct or even a small bivouac fire on a rather nice area in the forest.”supposes Nicolas Laurent.
Warn the population
If you come to the forest of Fontainebleau, you will very quickly see signs on the road explaining that in the forest of Fontainebleau, fire is prohibited. You will also find a prefectural order prohibiting the bringing of fire, even a lighter, is prohibited.
“Other red or orange awareness panels that also indicate very clearly in French and English, since we have an international audience, not to smoke and not to bring fires into this forest”explains the territorial manager.
Among the visitors of the day, Clara and her boyfriend have already covered a few kilometres. “It’s true that we saw several times places where people made fires. We saw cigarette butts on the ground too, it’s not very reassuring”says the young woman.
Jade and her friend are calm but aware of the situation. “Lighters are forbidden? We don’t smoke, it’s not a problem but it is sure that we are even more careful when we see what is happening today and when we know how long it will be takes for it to grow again.”
– Eloise Roger
The staff of the National Forestry Office also regularly makes rounds to warn visitors. “The luck that we also have behind the massive frequentation of these forests, is that the people who come to the forest can also become overseers somehow. This makes it possible to alert foresters and firefighters as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.smiles Nicolas Laurent.
The Fontainebleau forest is very well laid out, 1,000 kilometers of roads and trails in the forest which allow quick and easy interventions.
It should be noted that the agents of the National Forestry Office, in the same way as the police or the gendarmes, can draw up a report. In case of fire, it is a class four contravention which corresponds to €135 fine. “Just last weekend, we found people who had made a fire for a small barbecue. weekly, almost daily, and it is a real risk for the forest”relates Nicolas Laurent.
Protecting the forest in times of heat wave
The ONF has a sheet with the procedure to follow in the event of a heat wave and a risk to the forest. In Fontainebleau, it is possible toban demonstrations in the forest according to the risk indices communicated by Météo France. When this happens, it is possible to come for a walk but any activity that has been requested as a group is cancelled.
Avoiding risks in these periods can also go throughcessation of mechanized activities such as forestry work. “Mechanized work can generate sparks and as such, we can completely ban this type of work.”specifies the head of the ONF.
The forest of Fontainebleau is vast from 23,000 hectares. Since the beginning of the year, two hectares have already caught fire.