Christophe Nader and his son-in-law spoke to the BBC at a shelter near Teste-de-Buch, having been forced to abandoned their house in the village of Cazaux with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing. He told the BBC he was hoping to get back there to rescue their cat. Hundreds of people from the danger zone are at the temporary shelter, which has provided beds.
Animal rescues are being organised from there, but it is a slow process, the BBC's Jessica Parker reports.
Awful for everyone.
Having never been in that situation, it's hard to how we would react if there were fires in our area. We would probably hitch up our caravan, pack as much as possible (including doggie of course) and leave sooner rather than later. In the reportage last night, gendarmerie were going round trying to encourage people to leave but say they cannot force them. Some people interviewed said they were staying and would fight the fire if it came to it.
Blaze wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 10:25 amSome people interviewed said they were staying and would fight the fire if it came to it.
Sadly now is not the time to prepare a house against a wildfire. It takes planning over preceding months, if not years.
The link I posted shows what should be done. Apart from moving a few items and maybe clearing the roof and gutters, trying to complete everything on that list at short notice would be impossible.
niemeyjt wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 10:35 am
The link I posted shows what should be done.
I couldn't find the link !
But I imagine clearing vegetation from round the house must rate high on the list but a problem if you have neighbours who don't.
Those trying to defend their houses from the flames are at risk of being affected by smoke inhalation.
Thanks J - good advice from the US and ideally applied to all properties all the time rather than left until the fire season.
A house near us in Dorset was almost completely destroyed when a roofer was using a blow lamp and the flame caught a bird's nest under the eaves. The thin roofing timbers went up instantly and the heavy slates collapse very quickly ...
After all this, I hope the govt will legislate to force homeowners to clear undergrowth and forestry owners to follow guidelines from the fire service and others to prevent a repeat (in the winter). This is happening every year - each year worse than the last.
I hope also that landowners will be encouraged to grow species other than conifers and eucalyptus.
MAD87 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 4:03 pmAfter all this, I hope the govt will legislate to force homeowners to clear undergrowth and forestry owners to follow guidelines from the fire service and others to prevent a repeat (in the winter). This is happening every year - each year worse than the last
Unfortunately, the green lobby will oppose it (as in the US) - even though barbequed wildlife has little conservation value.
francetvinfo wrote:C'est un rappel de la dangerosité du combat contre les flammes. Six pompiers ont été incommodés par les fumées de l'incendie dans les Monts d'Arrée (Finistère), rapportent France Bleu Breizh Izel et France 3 Bretagne, mardi 19 juillet. Un camion des pompiers a également été détruit par les flammes, après être tombé en panne. Depuis mardi, 1 400 hectares sont partis en fumée dans ce secteur, soit plus que la surface totale de forêt brûlée en Bretagne depuis 2006, selon Mediapart.
The 6 pompiers had to be treated for smoke inhalation after their vehicle broke down.
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I too cannot image what it would be like to have to evacuate. Even assuming I could gather them all together, how do you get 21 cats into a car??
In 2003 we were close to the centre of major fires - only we weren't because at that stage it was a newly bought second home. We did however have a friend as lodger for the summer and he was warned to prepare to evacuate - something that never came to be. However the neighbouring commune did have to evacuate. The pompiers saved every single house - though some were a bit scorched and needed some repairs - but outbuildings and barns were largely destroyed.
I don't know how the pompiers are coping in this heat. The protective jackets they wear are very heavy and hoses etc that they have to lug around ... The organisation for evacuation seems to be saving lives and although several campsite have been destroyed, most properties seem to have been saved up to now.
Drop in for a natter about anything French related.
