France Faces Growing Fire Threat Amidst Aging Aerial Fleet
France is grappling with an escalating risk of forest fires, as highlighted by recent incidents in teh Brocéliande forest and the Ardèche Cévennes region. The nation’s capacity to combat these blazes from the sky is considerably hampered by its aging fleet of 12 Canadair water bombers,which have an average age of 30 years.
Brocéliande Forest Fire Highlights Vulnerability
The Brocéliande forest, a popular tourist destination, experienced a significant fire in August 2022, destroying approximately 400 hectares of the “Merlin the Enchanter” forest. This ancient woodland, spanning over 9,000 hectares and steeped in Arthurian legend, straddles the eastern Morbihan and southwestern Ille-et-Vilaine departments. the scale of this fire underscored the challenges faced in protecting such vital natural and cultural heritage sites.Ardèche Cévennes Battling First Fire of the Season
In the Ardèche Cévennes,a fire has already consumed nearly 40 hectares,with an additional 100 hectares under threat. The blaze, located near the town of Valgorge, is the first of the season in the department, which has been under heightened vigilance for forest fires due to ongoing drought conditions. State services have confirmed that no housing or sensitive areas are in immediate danger, though two departmental roads have been closed to facilitate firefighting operations.A ample response is underway, with approximately 100 firefighters and 53 machines deployed. This includes two Dash civil security planes, a water bomber helicopter, two reconnaissance planes, and a coordination helicopter. The fire is believed to have originated from a roadside maintenance machine.
the Minister to the Minister of the Interior, François-Noël Buffet, has emphasized the widespread risk of forest fires across the entire French territory, acknowledging the efforts of firefighters engaged in both the Valgorge and Brocéliande incidents. The Ardèche department had been classified under yellow vigilance for forest fires on Thursday and orange on wednesday, with weather conditions expected to become more favorable for controlling the current blaze in the coming hours.
