The two gigantic fires that have been raging since July 12 in Gironde have burned 19,300 hectares of forest and their smoke and smells, driven by the wind, were felt overnight in Bordeaux and hundreds of kilometers from homes. At the foot of the Dune du Pilat, the fire notably carried away the five campsites evacuated of their 6,000 occupants on July 13, including that of the Dune-Les Flots Bleus, immortalized by the films “Camping”.
“Patrick is crying,” tweeted actor Franck Dubosc, who plays the main character, Patrick Chirac. “It’s heartbreaking. Economically, it will be extremely difficult for them, as for the municipality. The tourist season, we need it! But we will get over it, ”reacted Mayor Patrick Davet.
Extreme drought
More than 34,000 people, residents or vacationers, had to leave their homes because of these two fires which are “still not fixed” but have not caused any casualties. “Against the firefighters, there are critical weather conditions, with extreme temperatures and drought”, explained on France Inter, Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for the National Federation of Firefighters of France. “Until then, our strategies had never been shaken, even by high temperatures or drought, but here we are in difficulty”.
BEFORE AFTER : These aerial photos show the progression of the fires in Gironde
The proliferation of extreme weather events is a direct consequence of global warming according to scientists, with greenhouse gas emissions increasing in intensity, duration and frequency.