By Jean-Marc Aubert
Published on
updated on 13 Jan 21 at 9:14
–
A vegetation fire of suspicious origin destroyed ten hectares of reed beds, south of the town of Capestang, West of Béziers, near the RD 16, mobilizing significant resources from Sdis 34 until the middle of the night.
Strong tramontana
The alert was given around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. When the first firefighters from Capestang arrived on site, the flame front extended for 600 to 800 meters in the ponds, due to a strong tramontana.
Reinforcements were provided by the barracks of Montady, Nissan-lez-Ensérune, Puisserguier, Cazouls-lès-Béziers and Cruzy-Quarante – 30 helmets in total – to stop any spread in a large area of reeds and other brush.
The last firefighters left the scene in the middle of the night.
Multitude of fire starts
À Capestang, a multitude of fire starts raises questions, especially among firefighters, gendarmes, the mayor and landowners. Latest fire to date: burning straw bales on land near the cemetery, on New Year’s Eve.
“Every year, in the same place, these straw bales burn as if by magic, always at night; it must have lasted for ten years, ”confides a resident of Capestang.
This witness also notes that, every summer, but also in winter, such as Tuesday evening, “numerous fires start to break out in the ponds. As the area is humid, the flames sometimes go out on their own, but many firefighters are mobilized at each alert ”.
An arsonist
An arsonist who remains elusive has been raging for ten years in Capestang. A rumor has circulated in the village in recent weeks, after a series of fires on wasteland: the arsonist has been identified and arrested.
Check made with the Hérault gendarmerie group in Montpellier, no arsonist was arrested. The investigation by the gendarmes continues actively.
Pine forest fire in Saint-Pargoire
In addition, this Tuesday at midday, a garrigue fire spread to a pine forest, on the road to Saint-Pons-de-Mauchiens, in the town of Saint-Pargoire, between the Thau lagoon and Clermont-l’Hérault.
The barracks in the area have been mobilized. Two hectares burned down.
–
