“The conditions are not good (…) We will be on the maximum level of six out of six,” said the firefighters, who predict “great surveillance, beyond everything we have known”.
The east of the Aude department, including the corbières affected by the gigantic fire left on August 5, will be in “Extreme forest risk” On Sunday, a first in the department since 2016, according to the prefecture and the Aude firefighters.
“Sunday will be the most tense day. Of the wind will be established, we go into extreme risk in certain areas »explained Colonel Michael Sabot, deputy departmental director of the Aude firefighters. The areas concerned include the Corbières sectors and the Narbonne coast, located east of the department and already affected by several fires since the start of the summer. “The Aude department has not experienced this level of risk since 2016”points the prefecture in a statement released at the end of the day on Saturday.
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A tramontane lifting is expected with 60km/h wind gusts, conducive to fire spread, while temperatures will rise to 39 ° C. “The conditions are not good (…) We will be on the maximum level of six out of six: the extreme risk”said the Aude firefighters, providing “A great surveillance, beyond everything we have known”.
A total of 1,200 firefighters are “On alert” All weekend in the department, according to the prefecture, of which 330 still mobilized on the surveillance of the fire gone between the municipalities of Ribaute and Lagrasse and which is still extinguished.
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In addition to the prohibition to access all forest areas in the department, “Mechanical work (welding, chainsaw, grinder …)” are prohibited, for professionals and individuals, said the prefecture. At the same time, important “Traffic flow can be expected in this August 15 bridge weekend”had underlined to AFP, Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the prefecture.
Placed in red vigilance on Saturday, there was “No major recovery” From the gigantic fire that traveled 16,000 hectares, while a fire only traveled 1.5 hectare at the end of the day, in Lanet, in the Corbières massif, “Currently classified in a favorable situation, thanks to the massive attack strategy implemented”mobilizing 150 firefighters, four Canadia and a Dash, according to the Aude firefighters.
Sunday, six departments will be on red vigilance risk of fire “Very high” including Aude, Hérault, Gard, Pyrénées-Orientales, Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône.
