According to Emergency Information, as at 31 July this year, the total area burnt in France stood at 4,436 hectares, whereas in 2018, 1,746 hectares of vegetation were destroyed. On the same date, the figure was 1,139 hectares – nearly four times less. A grim toll, raising fears of the worst in the days ahead, with the second month of summer having only just begun.
90 per cent of fires are caused by humans, and two-thirds of these are due to carelessness. One-third are started deliberately. The president of the National Firefighters’ Federation, Colonel Grégory Allione, is urging people to be vigilant.
To date, nearly 4,500 hectares have been devastated by the fires. This is four times more than in 2018, when 1,746 hectares were destroyed. A grim toll, despite the tireless efforts of those involved in fighting the bushfires. pic.twitter.com/YyITSypEQ3
— Anthony Montardy (@AnthonyMontardy) 1 August 2019