The fire in Var on Thursday, July 23, has still not been extinguished, but remains “stable.” The 500 evacuated people can return to their homes, but must be prepared to evacuate again. The department has declared a red alert due to the danger of forest fires; the fire is fanning the mistral.
The fire, which started on Tuesday at noon in a field in Ponteves, engulfed 2,700 hectares in the Gros Bessillon sector of the Var. About fifty houses were damaged, including 25 destroyed.
After focusing on the village of Cotignac (2,200 inhabitants) in the afternoon, firefighters’ battle is now focused on the municipalities of Corrins and Montfort-sur-Argens, where the fire is still active, the prefecture said in a situation update at 9:30 p.m.
“Weather conditions are improving with stronger easterly winds, which should ease the work of the 800 firefighters mobilized to contain the fire,” the prefecture said. The firefighters are assisted by 4 Canadair helicopters, 2 Dashs and 3 bomber helicopters. They also received reinforcements of 109 soldiers and 70 gendarmes.
The 500 evacuees may return to their homes to “allow the damage to be assessed,” the prefect specified, before indicating “that they must be prepared to evacuate again.”
“At this time, residents of Ponteves and Cotignac can return to their homes,” the prefecture said in a press release, adding that “instructions for the evacuation of residents of Corrin and Montfort-sur-Argens remain in force.”
Most roads have also been reopened, with the exception of RD22.
Vigilance is still needed
Late Thursday afternoon, Vara prefect Simon Babre put the number of fire outbreaks at between 50 and 100, driven by gusty mistral winds and particularly low humidity levels.
“We have invested maximum resources in protecting the village of Cotignac, which was truly under threat,” the prefect said at the time.
The Prefect of Vara will hold a meeting next Monday in the subprefecture of Brignoles with relevant stakeholders – elected officials, public services, insurance specialists – to assess the full impact of this devastating fire and put in place support measures for the territory and its inhabitants.