New fire breaks out north of Perpignan in the Pyrénées-Orientales

The fire that broke out early Tuesday morning has already covered more than five hectares.

A vegetation fire broke out about ten kilometers north of Perpignan on Tuesday, August 20 in the morning, between the towns of Espira-de-l’Agly and Baixas, reports France Bleu Roussillon. The flames have already ravaged more than five hectares of scrubland and oaks. Some 120 firefighters have been mobilized since 3:30 a.m.

At 6am on Tuesday morning, the situation seemed rather favourable: there was no wind and no sensitive points were nearby. A housing estate, once considered in the axis of the fire, is no longer under threat, according to the latest information from SDIS 66.

The Pyrénées-Orientales department is still placed in “high danger” in the face of fire risk, by Météo France, with increased surveillance in the Fenouillèdes, Aspres, Roussillon, and Corbières. The risk of fire breaking out is also high in the Albères. Due to the weather conditions and the increased risk of forest fires, the “Est Alpha” column, made up of firefighters from Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, Doubs, Meuse, Haute-Marne, Charente, Belfort and Aube, arrived as reinforcements in the Pyrénées-Orientales during the night from Monday to Tuesday.

Another fire broke out on Monday in the Pyrénées-Orientales, devastating two hectares of vegetation in Canet-en-Roussillon near the Mar Estang campsite. Nearly 3,000 holidaymakers had to be evacuated. On Tuesday morning, the fire was over, according to France Bleu Roussillon. Firefighters have lifted the surveillance system.