DROUGHT: Threatened by the flames, a nearby housing estate in the Pyrénées-Orientales was also evacuated
One hundred and thirty-seven people were evacuated after a fire that broke out near a campsite in Saint-Cyprien, a town in the Pyrénées-Orientales located about fifteen kilometres southeast of Perpignan. The fire in the engine of a tractor clearing brush around a campsite is believed to be the cause of this fire, which destroyed 10 ha of vegetation.
The occupants of the campsite were evacuated, as well as those of a nearby housing estate. Three mobile homes were destroyed and the fire threatened a villa to the point that the barbecue fell victim to the flames. The fire was fixed at the end of the day, thanks to the intervention of two Dash and 140 firefighters on the ground.
Two other fires in the department
During the same period, the department was plagued by two additional instances of devastating fires, which were further aggravated by the region’s harsh mistral winds and the plants’ extreme dryness due to a long-standing drought. One of these blazes occurred in Saint-André, which was eventually brought under control with the aid of the highly trained Dash team. The other inferno was less severe in magnitude and took place in the town of Céret, which, despite being comparatively minor, still required the prompt response of the local fire department to prevent it from spreading and causing further damage. These incidents serve as a grim reminder of the constant danger posed by natural disasters and the importance of being vigilant and prepared in the face of such emergencies.
