Elevated forest fire danger in Bouches-du-Rhône: Approximately 30 fires reported outside Marseille on Wednesday.
**Extensive Wildfires Sweep Through Bouches-du-Rhône**
The picturesque region of Bouches-du-Rhône, particularly the outskirts of Marseille, has been battling a series of wildfires over the past few days. The blazes, exacerbated by strong winds and high temperatures, have caused widespread damage and disruptions.
**Causes**
The recent wildfires have been traced back to a variety of sources, with one specific cause being a car catching fire by the side of a motorway, which sparked a major blaze. This unfortunate incident underscores the need for vigilance and strict fire safety measures, particularly in high-risk areas.
**Current Situation**
The wildfires have spread rapidly, affecting several hundred hectares north of Marseille, including urban areas like L'Estaque, Saint-Henri, and Saint-André. The fire has damaged dozens of homes and forced the evacuation of over 450 people.
In addition to the destruction of property, the fires have disrupted infrastructure. Marseille Provence Airport was temporarily closed, and flights resumed with ongoing disruptions such as delays and cancellations. Rail traffic was halted, and several roads were closed, leading to significant traffic congestion.
While no human casualties have been reported, nine firefighters were injured during the firefighting efforts. Residents were advised to stay indoors and avoid roads to prevent exposure to toxic smoke.
**Preventive Measures**
In response to the wildfires, a red alert has been issued for forest fire risk in Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, and Vaucluse, emphasizing the high risk of wildfires in these areas. The response to the fire includes the deployment of 168 firefighters, fire engines, helicopters, and the French Navy.
The fight against the fires involves both ground attacks and heavy water-bombing attacks from aircraft like Canadair or Dash. Sixty firefighters are on the scene of the fire near Marseille, with an additional 600 firefighters positioned near forests and main roads, ready to respond to any fires.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant, limit movements, and stay indoors to minimize risks and prevent the spread of fires. Maintaining fire-resistant vegetation and enforcing strict fire safety measures near motorways and other high-risk areas are vital preventive actions.
Lieutenant-Colonel Patrice Tissot, a firefighter at the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of the Bouches-du-Rhône, confirmed that the fires recorded on July 16 were of human origin and mostly accidental. Thirty fires were recorded outside Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, on July 16, with a fire currently underway near Marseille, at a motorcycle dealership in the Plan de Campagne business park in Pennes-Mirabeau.
National reinforcements are also present, and more than a thousand firefighters will be on the ground on July 17. Lieutenant-Colonel Tissot stated, "All the ingredients are there for fires to start," emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and preventive measures to combat the ongoing threat of wildfires.
The French authorities are investigating the human-induced causes of the wildfires, with the possibility that a car fire on the motorway could have sparked the blaze – a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety measures, particularly in the context of climate-change-induced weather patterns. The ongoing environmental-science and weather challenges pose a significant threat to the region, and the French firefighters remain vigilant, ready to combat future fires and enforce preventive measures to protect the environment and citizens.
