Forest fires

[tagh]

Glass can be a problem if it reflects and focussed sunlight onto combustible material. Many years ago on a blistering hot day my little bird and I were offloading stuff at a vide grenier. Amongst the items was a focussing mirror of the type used in domestic bathrooms. A passerby by pointed out that some linen items were smoking and about to burst into flame, thanks to the mirror.
And, some friends had glass door handles upstairs; the sunshine through a velux landed on these and the focussed heat caused a small fire.
So, many possible causes.
By the way, isn't land clearance in woods and forests a legal obligation?

[Blaze]

@Bayleaf It's reckoned that 90% of fires are caused by humans, accidentally or with criminal intent.

The cause of most of those in Brittany hasn't yet been determined, though one was started by 2 kids with a pétard and one was after lighting a bonfire. So far it seems the pompiers haven't found evidence of criminal activity.

[Bayleaf]

By the way, isn't land clearance in woods and forests a legal obligation?

https://www.service-public.fr/particuli ... its/F33298

Certainly if your property is within a certain distance of woodland - so you don't pose a threat to the forest. But it doesn't seem to say that all the woodland itself must be kept clear. I'd say that's pretty much impossible, considering the time and cost involved.

[niemeyjt]

I read that means forests must be kept tidy, cuttings removed etc, to prevent a fire risk to houses.

[Blaze]

@Bayleaf & @niemeyjt We had a conifer plantation in Maine et Loire before we moved here and one of the "eco" practices with élagage (chopping off the lower branches) was to leave them in situ to break down naturally, to encourage insects etc. Perhaps now in the light of the fire risk this practice will change. We lived in a forested area, a mix of resinous and deciduous, and were always aware of the fire risk.

[niemeyjt]

As I said previously - costs and environmentalism have led to woodland areas becoming fire hazards. Failure to remove undergrowth and thin trees allows fires to catch hold and spread more easily.

And as I also said - barbequed wildlife has little conservation value.

However, does anyone expect common sense from Prefectures?

[Blaze]

@niemeyjt Leaving cut branches to rot down naturally was nothing to do with the cost of removing them, but to allow them to break down naturally and to create a rich eco system on the ground. This practice has gone on for years but was never considered a risk in the past. I was surprised when our forestry advisor said not to collect and remove the cut branches as we were planning to remove them.
As I said above, perhaps in the light of climate change this practice will change.

[Blaze]

One or two people here live in Maine et Loire - anyone near Clefs or Baugé ? A fire has ravaged about 600 ha in the forêt du Prugle to the east of the Baugé/La Flèche road and still hasn't been brought under control. Apparently there's a store of UXBs from WW2 nearby .....
https://www.europe1.fr/societe/maine-et ... le-4127395

[Bayleaf]

Went to put the electric fence on this evening, as the naughty muppets pony and donkey found a way out this morning, but changed my mind, as I suddenly thought of any snick along the line that might cause a spark. I've repaired the fence where they got out, but if they're that way inclined, I'd rather they just escaped again (trying to find a green pasture!), than worry about causing a fire.

I've just closed off another gateway so that they'll hopefully just stay in an open top field, rather than do their usual scoot down the track onto the quiet chemin.

Even walking around making sure nothing can be reflecting from the sun onto dry vegetation ...... roll on the rain at the weekend, please!

[niemeyjt]

Went to put the electric fence on this evening, as the naughty muppets pony and donkey found a way out this morning, but changed my mind, as I suddenly thought of any snick along the line that might cause a spark.

It is amazing when you think about how many ways a fire could start - like your tiny spark from the electric fence.

I read elsewhere a farmer reckons his field caught fire when the combine hit a flint to create a spark.