A violent forest fire which broke out late on Sunday afternoon in the town of Saint-Haon, in Haute-Loire, has now been in place since Tuesday morning at 7.00 am. Firefighting operations are continuing and are expected to last several days, according to the SDIS.
A complex operation in challenging conditions
The fire brigade had to contend with adverse weather conditions and very rugged terrain, making their operation particularly lengthy and complex. In total, there were nearly 300 hectares which were ravaged by the flames, which also spread into the neighbouring department of Lozère.
Massive mobilisation of emergency services
No fewer than 270 firefighters were deployed to the scene, the equivalent of 17 Forest Fire Response Teams (GIFF), including four reinforcement units comprising the fire and rescue services (SDIS) of Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Hérault, Loire, Lozère, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône and Haute-Savoie.
Aerial resources also played a key role in fighting the blaze: two water-bombing helicopters (HBE) carried out 96 drops, whilst one Dash carried out two water drops to contain the spread of the fire.
Visible smoke and access restrictions
The fire produced thick plumes of smoke, which were visible across the Allier valley. The authorities are urging the public to avoid the area to facilitate rescue operations. The Prefect of Haute-Loire and Marie-Agnès Petit, President of the Haute-Loire Department, are due to visit the scene early this Tuesday afternoon.
To track the progress of the fires in real time, visit our map of current fires and stay up to date with the weather warnings in the region.
If you see a fire breaking out, report it immediately to the emergency services by dialling 18.