Fire in the Monts d’Arrée: firefighters fight on four fronts

Philipe Mahé, prefect of Finistère gave an update, this Tuesday, July 19, at the end of the morning, on the fire which has ravaged the Monts d’Arrée since the day before. “The firefighters have been mobilized since 2:45 p.m. this Monday, in Brasparts, Commana and Botmeur to deal with the most important fire that the department has known. And this in historically scorching conditions, while the Sdis recorded 53 fire starts during the day, ”he explained from the outset.
1,400 hectares ravaged So far, the fire has ravaged 1,400 hectares. The deployed system includes 200 men (six of whom were unwell due to the smoke) and around sixty vehicles from Finistère, neighboring departments and even Vendée and Maine-et-Loire. A water bomber (Dash) was even mobilized. He made two passages on Monday and another on Tuesday morning.
During the night from Monday to Tuesday, the farmers also worked hard bringing water from Lake Brennilis with their slurry tankers. Despite this exceptional deployment, the drop in temperatures and the rain that fell on Tuesday morning, the fire continues to progress. More than 500 people evacuated “Our strategy first consisted in protecting people and property, explained the prefect. It worked. Helicopter reconnaissance was carried out and all the houses were visited. The evacuations began at 10 p.m. and were completed around 3 a.m.
“More than 500 people have been evacuated. Some joined friends and family. And around 200, including six children, were accommodated in the communal hall of Sizun,” said Philippe Mahé. Who is pleased that the chapel of Saint-Michel de Brasparts could be saved from the flames. It was a “sensitive point”. Four fronts to fight From now on, the strategy will consist in fighting the fire, controlling its spread. Due to a swirling wind, the fire, which caught on the moors near the chapel, spread in several directions. “We have four fronts in front of us, explained Lieutenant-Colonel Gilles Boulic, in charge of operations until Tuesday morning. No place was attacked by the flames. All sites listed are under control. We are now entering a phase of attacking the edges of fire. »Several hours of combat« It is too early to say how long the operation will last. But it will obviously be several hours,” breathed Lieutenant-Colonel Renaud Quéméneur, who took over from his colleague at the head of the system. Especially since fighting forest fires turns out to be very physical. The firefighters must take turns. And the firefighter to explain what the objectives of the day are: to stop the spread on the left front flank along the D11; the same applies to the front right flank which threatens a fir forest and the rear right which heads towards peat bogs. d’Arrée were injured but would be treated and repaired. Moors and peat bogs will be restored and trees replanted. The Monts d’Arrée will come back to life soon. “The Department is already working on an environmental assessment which should be delivered within 48 hours.