La Teste-de-Buch
Since Tuesday July 12, the Gironde fires have destroyed more than 20,000 hectares of forest and led to the evacuation of 37,000 people. On Wednesday afternoon, a week after the fires started, the President of the Republic went there, to the command post of La Teste-de-Buch, then Langeau. Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in the afternoon, had a long conversation with the firefighters, greeting them “honorable work” and the absence of a victim. “Together you were able to limit the damage” he congratulated them.
Gironde fire brigade chief Marc Vermeulen recalled the difficult conditions in which these extraordinary fires are being fought: drought, a heat wave, swirling winds and fire swings of more than a few hundred metres. “We’re going into the summer marathon with a big ball on our feet” Firemen explained to Emmanuel Macron.
After greeting the police and volunteers. “the living forces of the nation” The head of state toured with evacuees and camp and restaurant owners in the fire-ravaged La Teste-de-Buch. “We have lost everything” lamented one of the owners with tears in his eyes. “We need financial and administrative help, we are very small and the work is difficult” added Cedric Rocher, owner of Panorama, the campground that was destroyed by the fires.
“More protective rules”
“We’ll be there to guide you” promised Emmanuel Macron, taking it as an example “national arrangements” deployed during the health crisis, particularly to provide wages for seasonal workers who find themselves unemployed. “You are going to rebuild with new rules” he clarified. Before the fire, several camps were in litigation with the state. Referring to the future of the forest, of which 7,000 hectares were burned in La Teste-de-Buch, Emmanuel Macron promised: “major national project”.for “Replant this forest” , mobilizing rangers, volunteers, and especially the Office of National Forestry (ONF), whose technicians have been working tirelessly for a week to guide firefighters through the forests and expand firebreaks. The President of the Republic also called for a review of forest management “More protective rules” and: “long-term prevention”. against these fires.
Before Emmanuel Macron, the president of the Gironde department, Jean-Luc Glazet (PS), repeated his demands. “In the future, we will need to have air resources here in the massif of Lande de Gascon.” he said, convinced that the fires would have been put out more quickly with planes nearby.
Lack of air resources
More than 2,000 firefighters, as well as six Canadair and two Dash aircraft, were mobilized in the Gironde on Wednesday. According to the decree of the President of the Republic, two private helicopters were also required to help the ground groups. When asked about the lack of air resources, Emmanuel Macron defended himself. “We have a fleet of 22 planes. enough of the last few years”before adding that it was necessary “later on”. “It is the European reflection”.he added, declaring that “Europe pays for our new resources”.
The flames have slowed their advance since Tuesday night into Wednesday. But Emmanuel Macron was cautious about the future. “The coming weeks will be very difficult” he announced. In the Gironde, it will take several days to stabilize the two fires, while in France, fires have been breaking out every day for a week, especially in the regions. “unusual” as on Monday in the Monts d’Arrée in Brittany.
Source: Le Figaro
