Var: forest fire destroyed “more than 1,000 hectares” in Gonfaron, 600 firefighters mobilized – franceinfo

The fire declared late Monday afternoon and “quickly gained momentum due to drought and wind”, according to the prefecture.

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Posted the 08/16/2021 10:00 PM

Update the 08/16/2021 11:32 PM

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France also affected by the fires. A forest fire broke out in the town of Gonfaron (Var), Monday August 16 at around 5:45 p.m. at the Sigues motorway area on the A57, around one hundred kilometers north-east of Toulon, reports the prefecture. This last “rapidly gained momentum due to the drought and the wind, despite the preventive measures put in place”, reports it in a press release.

#Forest fires | Significant fire start in the town of #Gonfaron in the #Var. Heavy resources are committed.
Be careful and avoid the area of this village.
A virulent fire in the same corridor of fire traversed in the 70s, 80s and 90s and in 2003.pic.twitter.com/Fcr493HUQo

– Firefighters of France (@PompiersFR) August 16, 2021

“More than 1 000 hectares have been covered, but it is still too early to assess the area actually burned “Commander Delphine Vienco, Var firefighters, told AFP on Monday evening. Two districts of the town were confined, and four departmental roads were closed Monday evening, in the direction of La Garde-Freinet and Grimaud in particular. Preventively, all of the 25 forest massifs of Bouches-du-Rhône are prohibited from access on Tuesday, as are the massifs of the Toulon mountains in the Var.

Faced with this event, the prefecture activated the departmental operational center. Seven canadairs, two dash [avions bombardiers d’eau], three water bomber helicopters and the Dragon 83 helicopter were mobilized, but had to stop their rotations due to the night. In addition, 600 sappersfirefighters are on site.

A major fire is underway in the Var with very unfavorable weather conditions. The prefect of Var is on site and I am closely monitoring the situation. All my support for the 650 firefighters mobilized last night to protect the inhabitants. @ SDIS83 pic.twitter.com/BqmVpL0Vvg

– Gerald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 16, 2021

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, on Twitter gave his support to the mobilized firefighters.

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