Fire in the Aude: these 5 “extreme” fires that have touched France since 1949

• The Aude department is currently affected by a gigantic fire, the flames having already devoured more than 14,000 hectares.
• A person also died.
• This disaster has already entered the history of “extreme” fires. For example, that is to say having ravaged more than 10,000 hectares, having struck France.

– Fire aude: these 5 "extreme"

It is the biggest fire of summer in France. Similarly, Since its start on Tuesday August 5. Similarly, in Ribaute, in fire aude: these 5 “extreme” Aude, an impressive fire has already traveled 14,000 hectares of garrigue and conifers. Additionally, Similarly, Despite a colossal device – more than 1. For example, 800 fire soldiers and 500 ground machines, supported by Canadair, Dash and a water bomber helicopter -, the firefighters fail to stop the progress of the flames measuring several meters high and fuelled by the wind. “The fire is always very active. Nevertheless, the situation is always unfavorable” Due to drought, heat and “Strong and dense wind”summarizes the secretary general of the Aude prefecture, Lucie Roesch. Consequently, One dead and nine injured were identified. Moreover,

This disaster is part of an already rich history in France, starting with “the fire of the century” in 1949. In addition, Note that it is only a question of “Extreme lights”that is to say. In addition, according to INRAE, “fires of an exceptional dimension (more fire aude: these 5 “extreme” than 10,000 hectares burned), [produisant] deep and lasting impacts on society, economics and the environment “. For example, We are witnessing, in passing, a multiplication of these phenomena in recent years. Meanwhile, Overview. Furthermore,

1949. Therefore, “The fire of the century” – Fire aude: these 5 "extreme"

From August 19 to 23, 1949, the one also nicknamed the “Grand Fire”, ravaged in a few days 50,000 hectares of pines, in the Massif des Landes de Gascogne. Furthermore, Subsequently, the investigation will reveal that he started from a sawmill, where a worker lit a cigarette. Therefore, In a context of intense drought. Consequently, and while the forest area was much less maintained during the Second World War, the flames are quickly uncontrollable. Similarly, “Sometimes shot in a little judicious way, counter-fires aggravate this disaster”, also underlines the INA.

At the cost of mobilization at all fire aude: these 5 “extreme” times. a heavy human assessment, the firefighters end up having the last word. But this fire remains one of the deadliest in history. costing life to 82 people, including many rescuers trapped by a sudden change of winds. He permanently marked the spirits, in this region regularly affected by this kind of disasters.

1976. the sad record

In the heart of summer 1976, the gesture of a pyromaniac transformed the forest of La Palmyre (Charente-Maritime) into a blaze. Here again, the intensity of the fire is multiplied under the effect of an extreme drought. Hundreds of vacationers, wedged between the flames and the ocean, are evacuated in disaster from the beach by boat. In parallel. firefighters see their action hampered by “Many shell explosions of 88, 77 and 105, coming from a former German ammunition deposit”écrit West Francein its edition of fire aude: these 5 “extreme” Tuesday, August 24, 1976. “It was something quite grandiose! It was on TV and my grandfather, who was in front, repeated ‘it will end up farting! It will end up farting!'”testifies François Saivet, with our colleagues.

In the end, “only” 1,500 hectares of forest are destroyed. But more than 80,000 hectares go up in smoke in France throughout the summer season, a record.

1990. the elusive flames in the Southeast

At the end of August 1990, the western part of the Maures massif (Var) was hit hard by a major fire. Vulnerable by a long period of drought, the pines are devoured by the flames. 12,500 hectares are destroyed. By diszooming a little, 23,000 hectares of vegetation are charred between Nice and Marseille, in the space of a few days. A situation reminiscent of the previous year, when the fire fire aude: these 5 “extreme” had progressed to the doors of the Marseille city.

2003. four dead in the Moors

Fires of criminal origin ravage the Massif des Maures (Var) again, at the end of July 2003, ravaging 10,000 hectares of vegetation. Four people are killed, while thousands of residents and tourists are evacuated. Three firefighters also perish in the flames in Cogolin, in August. In parallel, the Esterel in turn ignites. The fire quickly wins ground, fueled by bustws of 50 km/h. In total. 20% of Moors and Esterel are destroyed in the summer of 2003, some 20,100 hectares out of the 100,000 in the two massifs.

According to several observers, the fire in progress in the Aude can be comparable to these fires. “It is a terrible scale. We can compare the season. the type of fire in 2003, in the Var“, fire aude: these 5 “extreme” confirms Captain Marc-Antoine Rougeot on LCI of the National Federation of Firefighters of France.

Note that the 2003 summer season is particularly black in France, 13,000 hectares also burning in Corsica.

2022. the megafeux in Gironde

During the summer of 2022, in hell heat, the Gironde had nearly 600 fire starts, 48,000 people evacuated and some 30,000 hectares of forests, especially pine -sodes, destroyed. We particularly remember the megafeux of La Teste-de-Buch. in the Arcachon basin, and in the Landiras and Hostens sector, south of Bordeaux. Up to 3,000 firefighters are mobilized at the height of the crisis.

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11. 000 hectares ravaged, “this is the area of Paris”, underlines on TF1 the secretary general of the prefecture of Aude

However, the worst is avoided thanks to a “Exceptional and innovative crisis management system as well as the momentum of local, national and European solidarity, who came to support the action of firefighters”says the prefecture of Gironde. No human loss is to be deplored. “Less than 1 % of the entire built heritage has been destroyed”while the “Risk of spreading to the entire Massif des Landes de Gascogne has been avoided”. Despite everything, it is a region that has ignited throughout the summer, in one of the violent recorded in France.