Droughts promote fires while reducing the available water supply. Faced with these challenges, relief is adapting.
In the middle of April, nearly 1,000 hectares burned in the Pyrénées-Orientales. A violent fire broke out between Cerbère and Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sunday April 16, in a context of severe drought. A fire of this magnitude is particularly early at this time of year.
>> Fires in the Pyrénées-Orientales: the impressive aerial image of the damage
With climate change, conditions favor the outbreak of fires. “Before, we had a forest fire season. Now it’s a whole year”, alert Aurélien Manenc, representative of the National Federation of Firefighters of France, affiliated with the department of Hérault. He explains to franceinfo how the emergency services adapt their action accordingly.
Franceinfo: With climate change, has the fire season extended?
Aurelien Manenc : We are used to fires during the winter period. But in April usually, the vegetation is greener. There, what we see is that it is very dry and that fires are breaking out everywhere. Before, we had a forest fire season. Now it’s over a whole year. We have a feeling that in the future, there will be a little bit of it all the time.
Do you have to adapt the means put in place to fight fires?
Our strategy is changing in response to the need to save water. Historically, firefighters used fire hydrants in townships. A few years ago, we realized that taking drinking water to put out fires was not a good thing. The massifs have therefore been fitted out with cisterns, containing between 30 and 60 m3 of water, placed near and inside the forests. We have also started to identify all the natural water points on the surface (rivers, rivers, lakes, etc.). We also have lances that diffuse finer drops.
With droughts, is the level of water stock worrying?
We know that rivers and lakes, in places, have less and less water. For example, 40% of the natural water points listed in the Pyrénées-Orientales are currently dry. We adapt our control system as we go. We do a daily update on where to go in case of fire.
We are also doing a lot of work with forest owners to equip them with means of control: access, reserves in cisterns, firebreak zones… The overall development of the forest needs to be rethought in the light of climate change.
The fires spread over the year, but also in space. We see more and more fires in the northern part of France. How do you deal with this development?
Traditionally, the fires affect the south of the country. But last year, we had fires in the Jura, in Brittany… But usually, the means came from the North to reinforce the South during the fire season. We are reaching the limits of our ability to respond.
It is therefore necessary to strengthen the material and human resources. This year, after the call from the fire brigade, the government announced additional resources. We have recruitments in all departments and resources on the rise. It is necessary to prepare to face.