A fierce fire is currently ravaging the Aspres mountain range, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, putting several local authorities at risk and requiring the deployment of significant human and material resources. At a press conference, the Prefect of the department, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, gave an alarming assessment of the situation during a press conference broadcast by Here in Roussillon.
Despite the efforts of the 700 firefighters With ground forces deployed at the scene, as well as air assets, the fire crossed the RD66 and has spread to areas that are difficult to access. Weather conditions, characterised by a strong tramontane, a intense heat and a low water levels, make fire-fighting operations considerably more difficult.
Evacuation of residents from Les Aspres
As the fire spread, the authorities ordered the evacuation of 19 local authorities of the Aspres massif, covering approximately 5,000 people. The towns and villages concerned are:
- Boxes
- Castelnou
- Camélas
- Saint-Michel-de-Llotes
- Corbère
- Corbère-les-Cabanes
- Casefabre
- Bouleternère
- Boule-d'Amont
- The Priory of Marcevol
- Tarrerach
- Montalba-le-Château
- WHO
- Montauriol
- Tordères
- Llauro
- Taillet
- Taulis
- Prunet-et-Belpuig
- Sainte-Colombe-de-la-Commanderie
Firefighters are also working to protect the areas affected by the fire, particularly in Ille-sur-Têt, Bouleternère and Rhodes, at the Col de Ternère.
The Tour de France will go ahead with adapted arrangements
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the Stage 3 of the Tour de France, scheduled to take place between Granollers and Les Angles, is going ahead as planned. However, the Prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales, in agreement with the event organisers, has announced adjustments to minimise the mobilisation of state services.
The advertising caravan will not be in operation on the French section of the stage, and arrangements will be kept to an absolute minimum: only the riders and essential vehicles will be on the route. "It will be a stage of the Tour de France without spectators – on the French section, at any rate.", the prefect added, urging spectators not to go to the venue.
A call for solidarity and action from businesses
The prefect has appealed to companies in the department to release their staff so that they can report to their barracks and bolster the workforce on the ground.
The situation across the country is also tense, with several active fires in the south of France, which is hampering inter-departmental cooperation and the pooling of air and ground resources.
A worrying national situation
Forest fires are on the rise in the south of France, putting a strain on the emergency services resources. The combination of drought, by strong winds and high temperatures increases the risk of fires and makes them particularly difficult to bring under control.