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A fire has ravaged nearly 1,000 hectares of vegetation between Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône) and the Mediterranean coast. It broke out at around 6 pm on Tuesday 5 August. Nearly 2,700 people were evacuated, some across rough seas.
Five fires were reported by the Bouches-du-Rhône fire service in Martigues, Port-de-Bouc, Aubagne, Gignac and Carnoux-en-Provence. The fires, fuelled by the wind gusts of up to 90 km/h, Tuesday 4 August. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, visited the scene. Many residents were evacuated by the fire service, the police, sea rescue services, the maritime prefecture and members of the public. Some houses were destroyed by fire and nearly 1,000 hectares went up in smoke on the Cote Bleue, a true natural heritage site in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
1,000 hectares burnt, 2,300 people accommodated
8 am : TER services via Port-de-Bouc to Miramas are not running this morning.
There are no longer any homes at risk this morning, according to the fire brigade, who are keen to extinguish the remaining hotspots as quickly as possible to prevent the fire from reigniting. Reinforcements have arrived from all over France: from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, of course, but also from Occitanie and even from eastern France. Over the past hour, the four Canadair aircraft and the fire-fighting plane have already carried out five drops over the fire.
Tourists staying at accommodation centres must register with the volunteers on site, who will pass on the information to the prefecture in order to to organise their return as effectively as possible at their holiday accommodation if possible, or directly at home.
7.30 am : "As far as the firefighters can remember, they’d never seen anything like it."It was a very fierce fire says Grégory Allione, president of the French Fire Service and also chief of the Bouches-du-Rhône Fire Service. The spread rate recorded at one point – 8 km/h – is staggering. As far as I can remember, I have never experienced such a spread rate in a bushfire, and yet the seasons of 2003 and 1990 are etched in my memory. 8 km/h is the speed of a good runner. That’s what we had to contend with yesterday afternoon, with winds of 90 km/h – a mistral blowing strongly.".
"As far as I can remember, I have never seen a fire spread so quickly" – Grégory Allione, President of the French Fire Service
7.20 am : "Evacuating 468 people by sea is highly unusual" confirms Christine Ribes, the spokesperson for the maritime prefect. Especially as the sea was quite rough last night. In addition to the rescue boats, two fishing trawlers and vessels belonging to a private company based in Carry-le-Rouet took part in the evacuation.
7 am : two Canadair aircraft will carry out the The first drops of the day will take place in a few minutes’ time explains Perrine Baglan, head of communications for the Bouches-du-Rhône fire service, speaking live on France Bleu Provence. 1,025 hectares have been burnt in a suburban and tourist area. The fire was brought under control this morning, which means thathe’s no longer making progress, but it hasn't gone out yet.
Fourteen firefighters sustained minor injuries or poisoned.