the fire “is under control but not fixed”, according to the spokesperson for Civil Security

The ongoing fire between Banyuls-sur-Mer and Cerbère, in the Pyrénées-Orientales “is mastered, but not fixed”, said Monday April 17 on franceinfo Colonel Arnaud Wilm, spokesperson for Civil Security. He wants to be confident, ensuring that “the worst is over”. Colonel Arnaud Wilm specifies that “the most important flames are extinguished, but the spread is not stopped”. “511 firefighters” are still monday morning “mobilized, of which 63 have returned to their rescue center” which demonstrates “that the fire is decreasing in intensity”.

According to Colonel Arnaud Wilm, “the fire is still contained on 930 hectares, including 124 in Spain”. Sunday evening, a final assessment of the firefighters reported 950 hectares of vegetation covered by the flames. Since then, the situation does not seem to have changed much, explains the spokesperson for Civil Security. “The fire is progressing very slowly as the temperatures have dropped significantly and the gusts of wind have also dropped.”

Major risks “discarded”

Colonel Arnaud Wilm ensures that “major risks” for local people “are discarded”. He estimates that “The fire should be brought under control in the coming hours”. The spokesperson for Civil Security affirms that“No casualties were reported” in this “first big fire of the year”. “A firefighter was very slightly injured”he adds.