The fire which broke out on Tuesday July 21 in the Var covered more than 1,700 hectares, the fire having “continued to progress” during the night, according to the prefecture, leading to the evacuation of nearly 400 people in Cotignac and several neighboring towns.
“By nightfall, the fire had covered 1,700 hectares. Since then, it has continued its progression and still threatens part of the communes of Cotignac, Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens,” detailed the Var prefecture in a press release published at 2 a.m. Wednesday, adding that a new estimate of the burned surface will be given at daybreak.
And “more than 2,300 homes are deprived of electricity”, mainly in Cotignac, according to the prefecture. “During the next few hours, firefighters on the ground will focus on treating as many edges as possible and reducing hot spots while the weather conditions are more favorable,” the press release indicates.
The operation mobilizes 900 firefighters, 350 engines and 60 gendarmes, with reinforcements from different regions. They were surprised at the end of the afternoon by a reactivation of the fire despite a drop in the wind. “The fire is coming down from the Gros Bessillon mountain at a very high speed, which was not entirely predictable, given the climatic conditions,” explained the prefect of Var, Simon Babre.
400 people evacuated
Around 400 people were evacuated, particularly from Pontevès, where the fire started, and reception centers were set up to accommodate the victims. In this wooded and hilly region of the Toulon hinterland, the fire started from a field, according to emergency services. “For the moment the absolute priority for the entire area is this fire,” said the head of the Var firefighters, Éric Grohin, during the press briefing.
A fire tanker truck was damaged and “four firefighters and two residents of Pontevès were slightly poisoned by smoke”, according to the prefecture. Before a nighttime interruption imposed by the lack of visibility, more than 100 drops were carried out by air assets, which mobilized eight Canadairs, four water bomber helicopters and two Dash planes during the day.
Across the Mediterranean arc, the authorities are increasing calls for vigilance for this week, due to a dry and hot wind which is expected to increase at the end of the week, scorching temperatures and dry vegetation. Another virulent fire burned 200 hectares in the Var and destroyed homes between Sunday and Monday near Arcs-sur-Argens.
