In the Aude, the biggest fire in summer in France has died and nine injured and has already traveled 13,000 hectares. A “colossal” device has been mobilized to fight against the flames.
On earth as in the air, they fight against the flames. Since the first gleams of the day, this Wednesday, August 6, a “colossal” device was mobilized to fight against the gigantic fire which left a dead and nine injured and has already traveled 13,000 hectares in the Aude. On the ground, 2,000 firefighters and 220 devices are mobilized on this fire, according to civil security.
And in the air, at 11 am this Wednesday, according to the sub-prefect, the water bombers in action in the Aude were three large Dash carriers, four Canadair, two helicopters and two small Air Tractor devices. There is also a Beechcraft investigation plane. These air means must be reinforced with the mobilization of the entire national system of nine Canadair and five Dash, Lucie Roesch told AFP.
This number is constantly evolving, it varies according to the intensity of the fire, but also the means available at the time “T”. Some planes, back to the base, can sometimes be immobilized for a few hours due to a technical problem before being able to leave.
Nine canadair available
“Canadair, yellow and red, can scoop – fill their tank by touching water – and make very fast rotation by going to get water at sea or in lakes to drop 6,000 liters of water simultaneously on areas”, explains on BFMTV the Lieutenant -Colonel Frédéric Harrault, spokesperson for civil security.
In total, France has twelve Canadair, including nine sent to Aude, one who “had a major accident at the start of the season” and another deployed in other risk areas such as Corsica or the South West.
Dash planes and air tractor
Also made available to the famous Dash planes, “larger” and which can drop 10,000 liters of water. “They cannot scop, they must arise to recharge in water or while delaying,” said Frédéric Harrault.
Finally, “Air Tractor, which are smaller planes that can drop 3,000 liters” and “our helicopters of water” are mobilized: slightly 1,000 liters and heavy at 4,000 liters.
Three Beechcraft, investigative planes to account for the situation, complete this device. For the summer of 2025, the state also rented 16 aircraft, up to 10 helicopters and six planes, including the air tractor. Several devices, planes and helicopters, have been preposed in the Southwest and the Midi, the most risky areas.
