The fire that broke out in the middle of the forest had already devastated 800 hectares of vegetation around 10 p.m., and its rapid progression. Refugees on Crown Beach were evacuated.
Several fires were in progress in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Tuesday, August 4, according to information from France Bleu Provence and France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Firefighters have identified five fire starts identified by firefighters in Martigues, Port-de-Bouc, Aubagne, Gignac and Carnoux-en-Provence.
At 11 pm, 1,400 firefighters were still mobilized in Martigues, where the situation is most worrying, especially in the district of La Gacharelle, a very popular tourist spot. At least 800 hectares have already been covered by the fire, said in particular on franceinfo, the head of the communication department of the Bouches-du-Rhône firefighters Perrine Bagland. Fire “is in the city”, firefighters told France Bleu Provence. Some 200 to 250 people from the Bargemont district were evacuated. A crisis unit has been installed at the town hall and the city has opened two gymnasiums to accommodate residents.
Vacationers from three campsites in the Couronne, a seaside district in the town of Martigues, were also asked to regroup on the beach facing the progression of the fire, the national police told AFP. The maritime prefecture told franceinfo that “several hundred people” are evacuated by sea or will be in the coming hours, via boats in the port of Tamaris, in Martigues. These rescues began around 10 p.m., in a dark night.
The fire does not threaten the industrial facilities in the Fos-sur-mer area, however, assured AFP Pierre Dartout, prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in the early evening.
The fire broke out southwest of Martigues at the end of the afternoon, on the edge of Carry-le-Rouet and Sausset-les-Pins, in the middle of the forest. The fire is propelled by gusts of wind ranging from 80 to 100 km / h. The wind will continue to blow for part of the night. The flames jump several tens of meters and two houses burned down. Firefighters talk about “extraordinary situation” and the fire was now descending towards the south, on the blue coast, towards Sausset-les-Pins.
Another fire broke out around 4:20 p.m. in Port-de-Bouc. The fire affects an industrial area. Particular attention is paid to the peri-urban area, in the Saint-Jean district. There too, houses were damaged, as well as a car garage. But the aid was able to save 14 homes, a gymnasium, a campsite, as well as around 20 cars. “No casualties were reported”, specify the firefighters of Bouches-du-Rhône to franceinfo. 110 hectares went up in smoke. The fire is currently under control, after having devastated 110 hectares.
In Aubagne, three hectares have been covered and special attention is paid to the La Fenestrelle district. In total, 340 firefighters responded to the height of the fire. In Gignac-la-Nertheen, the fire started on the edge of the A55 motorway. The fire traveled over a hectare but is now extinguished.
Air assets were also engaged throughout the affected sector, with: seven planes, including Canadairs and water bombers, five water bombers helicopters. But the night forced these air assets to stop their rotations and their drops. Reinforcements from other departments are also on site or on the way. The A55 motorway is still closed at Gignac.
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here are the overnight accommodation :
Martigues : Picasso-Gacharelle gymnasium, G. Philippe gymnasium; The crown : multipurpose room ; Sausset-les-Pins : arts room, Calmat gymnasium; Carry-le-Rouet : Rouet room, Canepa room; Car : multipurpose room.
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