The fire raging near Die, in the Drôme, has now spread across 3,700 hectares, a slight increase, according to the latest update issued at 7.30 am by Colonel Frank Tournier, departmental director of the Drôme Fire and Rescue Service. Although the night-time conditions have reduced the intensity of the flames, the emergency services are expecting the fire to reignite as temperatures rise during the day. Nearly 570 personnel have been mobilised.
The significant air and ground resources deployed to tackle the forest fire in Justin, near Die, have helped to bring the situation under control, though not in all areas. A hamlet in Solaure-en-Diois and a campsite in Die have been ordered to evacuate, affecting around 400 people.
A containment strategy in the face of multiple flashpoints
The fire brigade has adopted an operational strategy aimed at containing the fire within an area to the south of the D93 road. Their priority is also to tackle the fire pockets spreading down the slope of the Justin Forest, which overlooks Die.
After ten days of a fierce battle, the teams remain fully committed to finding swift solutions. No further evacuation orders have been issued since the evacuation of the Pinède campsite, but preventative measures may be taken as a precaution.
Strengthened measures to protect people and property
The authorities are reminding the public of the importance of following safety guidelines and reporting any outbreak of fire via the dedicated platform Report a traffic light. The situation is being monitored in real time on the map of current fires, whilst weather risks can be viewed on the departmental vigilance.