The fire that broke out between Gigean and Frontignan, in Hérault, is set for Monday, August 19, but resumption of fires is possible. Another fire is hitting the department and is not yet under control.
This is one of the largest fires of the summer of 2024: more than 320 hectares burned in Hérault. The fire broke out on the afternoon of Sunday, August 18, around 3 p.m., between Gigean and Frontignan, 150 meters from the A9 motorway and progressed southward under the effect of the wind. The fire was able to be contained by the firefighters, announced the prefecture of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, on France Blue Herault on the morning of Monday, August 19.
No fewer than five Canadairs, three Dash and two bomber helicopters have been mobilized to stem the spread of the flames since Sunday afternoon and have carried out more than 150 drops. 200 vehicles have also been deployed on the ground to reinforce 450 firefighters who continued to contain the flames and neutralize the resumption of fires during the night from Sunday to Monday. Up to 600 firefighters were mobilized on Sunday with the arrival of 200 firefighters from Bouches-du-Rhône as reinforcements.
Another fire “is not fixed for the moment”
Although the fire that burned between Gigean and Frontignan has been contained, it is still subject to significant risks of rekindling and still requires the intervention of firefighters. Firefighters are also working on another fire that broke out in the pine forest to the west of Hérault, in Nissan-lez-Ensérune. This fire “is not contained for the moment” and has burned 60 hectares, François-Xavier Lauch told France Bleu. The resigning Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, is expected in the department this Monday. Both fires risk being fanned by the wind, with gusts of up to 50 km/h expected this Monday.
The origins of the fires are unknown
The causes of the two fires are currently unknown. “We are not ruling anything out at this stage,” said the Prefect of Hérault. Criminal or accidental, the origins of the fires are human in nine out of ten cases, as the various departmental fire and rescue services (Sdis) have been repeating for several years.
The fires did not cause any injuries in Hérault, although some material damage was reported: a house was destroyed by the flames as well as some other infrastructure. However, the town of Frontignan activated its municipal rescue plan and evacuated several residents as well as a camp for travellers to the north of the town. Around fifteen people were accommodated in the town’s gymnasium before being able to return home during the night.