A former Montrealer living in the Bordeaux region lives in the anguish of seeing the forest fires progress to the point of reducing his parents’ second home to ashes, where he spent all his summers with his family.
“We don’t know if everything will be gone tomorrow,” worries Benjamin Brethes, who studied for four years in Montreal.
“Several members of the family are very stressed at the idea of losing the place,” adds the 25-year-old young man, specifying that the Claouey house, in the Arcachon basin, west of Bordeaux, contains many memories.
He has been back in his native country for two days, in Bègles, on the outskirts of the French metropolis, after a three-week vacation in La Belle Province.
As soon as he arrived, he noticed the chaotic situation that awaited him.
“The sky was red and it smelled burnt. We had to stay inside to protect ourselves from the smoke,” he says.
“The future is uncertain”
At the time of writing, historic fires in southwest France have led to the evacuation of at least 220,000 people.
Mr. Brethes’ grandmother is also one of those who had to abandon their home.
Fortunately, she is doing well, but concern among family members remains.
Benjamin Brethes wanted to thank all the farmers who mobilized to help the firefighters.
AFP
“The future is uncertain. It’s very hard for everyone because it’s a constant mental pressure,” he mentions.
On Monday, the rain offered a brief respite to residents of the region. The authorities thus benefited from a window of opportunity to try to create barriers which could help slow the progression of the fire towards Bordeaux.
However, the high temperatures expected over the coming days, as well as a possible change in wind direction, could reduce this feeling of hope to ashes.
“We’re thinking about packing our bags. It’s a shock, even to think about it, to leave our house,” the young man saddens. “You have more than 20 years of life in there and you tell yourself that everything can disappear. »
– With AFP
