Since Sunday, firefighters from the Hautes-Alpes department, are battling a forest fire near L’Argentière-la-Bessée in difficult conditions, on steep, mountainous terrain presenting numerous objective hazards. Their operation, which was already complex, was marred by several incidents on Monday afternoon.
Dangerous working conditions
Early on Monday afternoon, a boulder weighing around two tonnes broke loose and crushed a light off-road vehicle (LORV) belonging to the fire service. Fortunately, this spectacular accident, a picture of which was broadcast by the SDIS 05, caused no casualties. Shortly before, a female firefighter had been slightly injured by a falling rock and taken to hospital for treatment.
In light of these increased risks, teams have been withdrawn from the danger zone. The authorities are reminding the public to strictly comply with the access ban in this area, where natural hazards compound the risks associated with fire.
To keep up to date with the latest developments and current fires in the region, please visit our real-time fire map. If you notice a fire starting, you can also report a fire via our dedicated platform.