At around 8 pm on Monday, a forest fire broke out between Bizanet, Ornaisons and Névian. It was reservists from the Aude Gendarmerie who raised the alarm after spotting a plume of smoke near the D24, at the foot of the wind turbines. As they approached the area, they came across a man who attempted to flee. He was quickly pursued, arrested and taken into police custody.
The investigation has been handed over to the Narbonne Public Prosecutor’s Office to establish this individual’s liability and clarify the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the fire. According to L'Indépendant, no information has yet emerged regarding the suspect’s identity or their possible motives. Vigilance remains essential, as weather conditions and the drought are making the mountain ranges extremely vulnerable.
A massive mobilisation to contain the fire
The rapid response of the emergency services was crucial in preventing the fire from spreading dramatically. No fewer than 250 firefighters were deployed on the ground, supported by an impressive aerial operation: four Canadair aircraft, two Dash aircraft, two water-bombing helicopters and around fifty ground vehicles. Two separate fires were identified, which spread across approximately four hectares of scrubland.
On Tuesday morning, the Aude Prefecture reported that the situation was developing “favourably”. Around thirty firefighters were still on site to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished and to prevent it from reigniting.
To keep track of current fires in real time and check the fire risk in your area, take a look at our interactive maps: Map of active fires, Fire risk map.