More than 900 firefighters from Gironde and other departments are now fighting to put out this fire which burned 3,620 hectares according to the latest report this Wednesday at 10 a.m., destroyed three houses (2 in Sainte-Helene and 1 in Saumos), five sheds and barns and led to the evacuation of 840 people in Saumos, in the hamlets south of Sainte-Hélène (Les Tronquats, Bédillon, Le Beillon) and an area west of Sainte-Hélène between the D6 and the D5.
Here is the latest information on this fire with our journalists in the field. This direct is regularly updated, click here to refresh the page.
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11:25 a.m. The Gironde department continues to support the logistics of firefighters
The President of the Departmental Council of the Gironde, Jean-Luc Gleyze went this morning to the Temple at the command post of the emergency services which are fighting against the fires of Saumos and Sainte-Hélène and this, among other things, for a visit to recognition on the front of the disaster but also to greet the departmental teams of “associated logistics”.
Jean-Luc Gleyze, on the right, during the summer fires in Gironde.
SOUTH WEST ARCHIVES
“For the Landiras fires, the Gironde Departmental Council made the Hostens Departmental Estate available to welcome and house the firefighters engaged in the fight against the fire. We reiterated this logistics in order to offer support from the Department to the mayors of the municipalities impacted by this new fire, ”recalls the president. Thus the services of the Domaine d’Hostens prepare meals, snacks on site and deliver to Saumos and the Temple, nearly three times 1000 meals daily to the 900 firefighters mobilized. “For accommodation, we work with the places that already exist on the territory in close collaboration with the mayors of the affected municipalities”, adds Jean-Luc Gleyze.
This Wednesday, a reinforcement of five canadairs, three dashes and two water bomber helicopters were mobilized on the Médoc fire. Air reinforcements that the president of the Department of Gironde likes. “The question that concerns me and on which I remain mobilized is rather the prepositioning of our air force department. A point of which the fire flash mission launched at the end of August by the president of the Assembly of the Departments of France seems to have taken the measure. »
11:15 a.m. Video. In Saumos, the fight against resumption of fire
Around Saumos, firefighters are also working to avoid fires. For their part, the gendarmes are also mobilized to control the evacuated town, the passage on the roads between St-Hélène and Saumos which is prohibited to traffic. They also want to prevent people from returning to their homes. Residents are still in their homes in evacuated areas, assures our journalist Julien Lestage.
In Saumos, the gendarmes want to prevent people from returning to their homes. JULIEN LESTAGE
11 a.m. The municipality of Castelnau is mobilizing for the evacuees
In Castelnau, north of Sainte-Hélène, the village has set up a reception center for evacuated residents. Solidarity is organized. THOMAS DUSSEAU
At the gates of the Médoc, our journalist Thomas Dusseau reports that the municipality of Castelnau is mobilizing to welcome some of the people evacuated to Saumos and Sainte-Hélène. “The Médoc sub-prefect called us yesterday (Tuesday) to set up a reception center,” explains Mayor Eric Arrigoni. Thirty residents were welcomed Tuesday evening at the multipurpose home, near the town hall. Civil protection deployed its resources. “We noted the names and called for solidarity,” continues the elected official. Guest rooms were made available by owners in the area, the pizza maker also offered pizzas. Elected officials and volunteers follow one another on the spot to manage the situation. “We are operational”, assures the mayor.
10:30 a.m. The point with the sub-prefect: 3620 hectares burned
From the command post of the Temple, the sub-prefect of Lesparre, Fabrice Thibier gave an update on the fire at 10 a.m. “At this time the fire has consumed 3620 hectares of forest in the Saumos and Sainte-Heléne sector, ravaging three houses (2 in Sainte-Helene and 1 in Saumos) and 5 sheds and barns. Saumos whose inhabitants are still forbidden to return to their homes” underlined the representative of the State. “The fire remains active. Last night the lack of rain and the wind shifts made it advance over 300 hectares.
On the ground, firefighters and gendarmes are active. JULIEN LESTAGE
On the ground, at the end of the morning, we fear a southerly wind which will fall from the west at low intensity (10 km/h) but with possible gusts of 30 km/h. Gusts likely to revive the smoke and flames of the already affected areas. “But most of the relief remains concentrated on the head of fire west of Saint Helena, beyond the D6.”
This day, 900 firefighters are mobilized, including 700 in the forest. Reinforcements from neighboring departments (16, 47, 87, 24) but also from the Great West, Rhône-Alpes and Bouches-du-Rhône have arrived. Reinforced air support is set up for the day with 6 canadairs, 3 dash and 2 water bomber helicopters.
On the front of the origin of the disaster, gendarmes patrol and investigate the area. “At this time, it is still too early to say more. We collect testimonies and elements on the ground” concluded Fabrice Thibier.
10:20 a.m. Video. Inhabitants, horses, rabbits… The evacuation film
Since Monday, about 850 inhabitants were evacuated in the commune of Saumos and some hamlets of Sainte-Hélène. Many animals, including horses from an equestrian center, were also affected by these operations, to see in the video below.
10 a.m. The firefighters of 17 still overwhelmed with calls
In Charente Maritime, like tuesdayi, department firefighters continue to receive phone calls for smoke smells. They recall that these relate to the fire still in progress in Gironde and “whose odors are carried by the wind”. Tuesday, following these fumes, a pollution peak has also been measured in La Rochelle.
9:50 a.m. Still smoke at the Seguin sawmill
This sawmill in Saint Helena was engulfed in flames overnight from Monday to Tuesday. The wood stocks were destroyed but fortunately the industrial tool was preserved. We told you this story here. This Wednesday morning, the smoke is still present on the site of the sawmill.
At the Seguin sawmill this Wednesday morning. The burned wood stocks are still smoking. VALERIE DEYMES
9:40 am: How are the arsonists tracked down?
In Médoc, since Monday, the criminal origin of this new fire is beyond doubt for the gendarmes mobilized on several fronts. Find the report here of our journalist Jean-Michel Desplos on this hunt for arsonists carried out by the gendarmes.
9:30 a.m.: Video. Firefighters attack resumption of fire in Saumos
On the ground, our journalist Valérie Deymes, the firefighters carry out this Wednesday morning the first recognitions to avoid the resumption of fire along a track perpendicular to the D5 commune of Saumos. The fire-fighting services try to prevent the fire from crossing the runway and reaching the healthy part.
9 a.m.: “No more seasons” for fires
Also guest of France Info, Éric Brocardi, spokesperson for the national federation of firefighters of France, recognized exceptional climatic conditions, “There are no more seasons” for fires, nor for stormy risks or floods. he regretted.
8:45 am: The mayor of Lacanau is worried about the westerly winds
Asked about France Info, the mayor of Lacanau, Laurent Peyrondet, is worried about the evolution of the weather this Wednesday: “The balance sheet has not worsened too much” this night but the concern is that gusts of west will come back at 45 km/h”.
8:30 a.m.: review of the night
The night from Tuesday to Wednesday was calmer due to a less virulent southerly wind, but which carried the smell of smoke to the Bordeaux metropolis. It hasn’t been a long calm river, however. According to the mayor of Sainte-Hélène Lionel Montillaud, several flame swings crossed the D6 between Lacanau and Sainte-Hélène overnight. But they were contained by the firefighters.
The fire also approached two kilometers from the town overnight. But again, the firefighters managed to contain its progress to prevent it from destroying other houses. If the situation is less unfavorable this Wednesday morning, the fire is not yet fixed or under control and several roads and cycle paths are still closed.
Since Monday, 3,500 hectares have gone up in smoke in the Médoc, in a probably arson attack. Fabien Cottereau/ “South West”
8 a.m.: Tuesday’s report
Tuesday was the hardest day, in particular due to unfavorable weather conditions: high heat, stormy winds and drought. 900 hectares went up in smoke just overnight from Monday to Tuesday, then 1,500 more during the day, or 3,200 hectares in two days. The task of the firefighters was further complicated by the appearance of another outbreak of fire in Vendays-Montalivet, on which part of the means had to be diverted. But at the end of the afternoon, this fire, which burned about ten hectares, was under control and the air resources were able to return to the fire in Saumos.