Europe09 August, 20262 min read
Wildfire Forces Evacuation Of Two Hamlets In Lozère As 200 Firefighters Battle Blaze
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Evacuations of residents in Lozère due to a fast-moving wildfire. Fire burned roughly 90–100 hectares by Sunday afternoon.
5 outlets told this the same way.
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Lozère wildfire spreads
A wildfire in southern France forced the evacuation of two hamlets in the Lozere region, with more than 200 firefighters battling flames that had scorched around 90 hectares. The fire broke out around 12:45 pm (1045 GMT) in the Lozere region, about 140 kilometres (85 miles) northwest of Montpellier, and officials said it might have been sparked by a vehicle catching fire on a local road. By late afternoon, the blaze had burned some 90 hectares (220 acres) and continued to spread, as around 220 firefighters from Lozere and neighbouring departments were deployed.
The response included four Canadair water bombers and a Dash aircraft, with more reinforcements on the way, while local fire services said, "The situation is not under control." Two hamlets in the municipality of La Tieule, directly in the path of the flames, were evacuated at around 5:00 pm, affecting about 20 homes.
Evacuations and road closures
Local authorities said the evacuation affected about 20 homes in two hamlets in the municipality of La Tieule, and the road between La Tieule and Le Recoux was closed. France 3 Régions said the fire broke out in the commune of Massegros Causses Gorges in Lozère around 12:40 p.m. this Sunday, August 9, and that 100 hectares of forest had already burned. France 3 Régions reported that the hamlets of Pertuzades and Le Duc, in the commune of La Tieule, were evacuated, representing about twenty houses.
The Lozère Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS 48) said a car fire was believed to be the origin of the blaze, and firefighters said, "For now, the head of the fire and the right flank are not under control." By 6 p.m., France 3 Régions said the situation was still not under control according to authorities, while Canadair planes and a Dash were on site at the height of the forest fire in the afternoon.
Air resources and warnings
Authorities deployed air resources including four Canadair water bombers and a Dash aircraft, while the prefecture asked residents to avoid the area as flames covered about 100 hectares by just before 6 p.m. ICI.fr said more than 200 firefighters were mobilized with support of significant air resources, and it stated that residents of two hamlets, Pertuzades and Le Duc, had been evacuated as a precaution. ICI.fr reported that, according to early observations, it appears to be a car accident that started the fire, after a vehicle went off the road and caught fire.
The Local France said officials might have been sparked by a vehicle catching fire on a local road, and it repeated that the fire burned some 90 hectares (220 acres) by late afternoon. France 24 reported that local authorities urged residents not to call emergency services to report the blaze, warning that doing so could overload crews already fighting the fire.