This Thursday, residents of Prades and the surrounding area may see smoke rising. It is coming from a controlled burning to Clara, south of the village. The SDIS 66 calls on the public not to overload the emergency services in the run-up to this expected event.
A call for public understanding
Early this morning, the fire services issued a statement regarding this operation. They posted on X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation and asked the public to avoid calling the emergency services on 18/112 specifically in relation to this matter.
The operation is being carried out by the fire service and Civil Protection. They are carrying out controlled burns in protected areas to create firebreaks against future fires. This tactic aims to halt or slow down the spread of fires in areas that are difficult to access.
The ‘fire against fire’ tactic at Prades
Using fire to fight fires may seem surprising, but it is a tried-and-tested method, as demonstrated by its success during the fires in Gironde in 2022. By carrying out controlled burns, firefighters create breaks in the fuel supply, thereby limiting the spread of fires.