Firefighters in large numbers this Friday afternoon at the top of the Vissou peak in the town of Cabrières near Clermont l’Hérault. Not for an intervention, rest assured that this is the place they chose to present the forest fire prevention system for the summer season. Human resources (framework of all barracks, forestry sapeurs, CCFF, rural police, etc.) and materials (vehicles, drones, water bombers, etc.) for the prefect to review.
On the fire front “The start of the season was quite mild, but from next week the forecast is for heat, the plants will dry out, we will have mechanically risky days” warns the Comptroller General Eric Florès, who heads SDIS 34. Last year in Hérault we regretted that 593 fires started and 469 hectares burned over the summer period from 1 June to 30 September 2023.
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Decommissioning of 12 forest areas
The most important news is the prefect’s decree to prohibit access to 12 forest areas (compared to 4 in 2023 with its predecessor) on days when the risk will be high. The system provides four levels of alertness from green to red. This measure fulfills a triple objective: to protect people and property, facilitate firefighting operations and preserve the environment. A map is issued daily at the prefecture’s website.
“94% of fires are of human origin, so when there is a high risk, it is better not to venture into the massifs” explains François Xavier Lauch prefect of Hérault.
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Firemen’s eyes
To fight fires, firefighters can always count on CCFF, the municipal forest fire committees. There are about forty in the department with 1200 volunteers. “We monitor from high points and at the slightest smoke we warn the firefighters to intervene quickly and limit burnt surfaces” specifies Philippe Cabrol, president of the CCFF in Hérault.
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If you want to volunteer, go to www.adccff34.org
Rules to respect
Remember that it is forbidden to smoke and grill in forests, woods and thickets, that burning plants is forbidden between 15 June and 30 September, i.e. mechanical work that may cause sparks is prohibited in cases of very high fire risk and that throwing a cigarette butt out of a car or into a tree is punishable by a fine of 135 euros.
Sebastien Garnier
