Why was the chapel of Mont Saint-Michel in Brasparts spared by the flames? – The Telegram

A favorable environment. Located overlooking Lake Brennilis, on a ridge of Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts, ? the chapel of the same name is isolated. The type of terrain on which it was built played a role in saving it from the flames of the fire currently raging in the Monts d’Arrée. “On the summit and all around there are not too many moors or fir forests. It’s more rocky, notes Brendan Petit, in charge of mediation at the ecomuseum of the Monts d’Arrée. But the flames were very close, 100 m from the chapel”. Bernard Clément, retired research professor at the University of Rennes in ecology, specialist in the moors in the Arrée mountains, agrees: “On the perimeter around from the chapel, there are vast spaces, sometimes a few tens of meters, of trampled lawns. Very sparse vegetation. So there is almost no fuel for the fire to feed on. In addition, there is no tree that could throw sparks”. A solid construction. Built in 1674 with local stones, the chapel, restored several times, has stood the test of time. The choice of materials used allows it to be protected in the event of a fire. “The thick slate from the Monts d’Arrée used for the roof is not flammable,” emphasizes Bernard Clément. Targeted action by firefighters. The chapel was one of the sensitive areas, along with the hamlets, on which relief concentrated on Monday. “The principle is to be able to come with fire-fighting means to create a water barrier between the sensitive point and the incoming fire. The chapel was really in the middle of this outbreak of fire. We put resources nearby and the fire passed, reveals Colonel Sylvain Montgénie, general controller at Sdis 29. There was no incident to deplore on the chapel of Mont Saint-Michel. the fire in the Monts d’Arrée