More than 300 firefighters were requisitioned this Monday to fight the fire in the commune of Montouliers, in Minervois.
A major fire broke out in the forest on Monday, July 29, early in the afternoon. The fire started in the town of Montouliers, in Minervois, on the border between Aude and Hérault. While some 330 firefighters managed to contain the fire early in the evening, according to the Hérault prefecture on the social network X, the firefighters must remain mobilized all night from Monday to Tuesday to ensure that the flames do not start up again, encouraged by the wind.
Although the origin of the fire has not yet been identified, 43 hectares went up in smoke on Monday, the Hérault firefighters estimated on X on Monday evening. To manage to channel the fire, the firefighters indicate that personnel from Hérault and Aude had to be requisitioned, as well as three Canadairs and a Dash plane.
THE @PompiersHerault are currently working on a fire located on the Hérault/Aude border in the Montouliers sector. The fire has covered 31 ha (scrubland and pine forest).
270 firefighters are deployed on the ground, 60 fire-fighting vehicles as well as pic.twitter.com/cnxVNYNC7B— Prefect of Hérault (@Prefet34) July 29, 2024
“Nearly 55 hectares covered by the fire, including 43 hectares burned,” confirmed the prefect of Hérault, stressing however that “no material damage” was to be deplored. He added: “The staff will remain mobilized all night to treat the hot spots, with the support of the drone cell of the Sdis of Hérault.”