French "wild' fires

[MAD87]

Hopefully lessons will be learnt & plans put in place for the inevitable future re-occurrences.

The lesson of Les Landes in '22 taught them nothing.

[exile]

And I fear the lessons of the fires in the Ardèche in 2003 have also now been forgotten.

Roadside ditches stopped fire equipment getting off the roads and into the forest. Recently many of those ditches have been deepened to improve run off.

[Blaze]

I'll explain a couple of things when I get home.
Apart from the first wave of evacuations, very few have been necessary. These were mostly around Andernos where everyone had gone except a few oldies who refused. Some had medical issues and there were no doctors or nurses left there.
No lives have been lost which is the main thing.

The ongoing situation in France is nothing quite like anything that's happened before. Of course there will be lessons drawn from these "incidents" but how to combat the mentality of those who start fires deliberately is quite another matter.

We're waiting for the order to go. Sleeping in a large garage with 50+ others, on camp beds is quite something ! The snorers could have formed their own orchestra, it was unbelievable. Fortunately we have very good earplugs

[Lori]

The snorers could have formed their own orchestra, it was unbelievable.

I thought of that when you posted the conditions. I live with a snorer and it can be absolute He**. You'll sleep well when you get home.

Stay safe.

[Polly]

Blaze, it’s good news that the situation is improving and that you’ll soon be back to your own beds - extremely welcome, I’m sure. It’s great that groups like yours are ready to go to help in emergencies.

[Blaze]

The reason that so many people from organisations like the Croix Rouge, Protection Civile, SNSM (us) etc, and pompiers were sent to Bordeaux was the very real possibility that the whole of Bordeaux could have to be evacuated. The calculations of risk and consequences gave the authorities quite a buttock clenching moment. A very sensitive site and the fear of a fire storm, caused by intense heat, approaching it were a huge concern. France has never known a firestorm, unlike, for example, some of the German cities bombarded during the war (Dresden and Hamburg).
Fortunately the fires were put out and the people evacuated from the areas around the site were able to return home after a few days.

This was deliberately kept low key to avoid panic. The press concentrated more on the areas and houses destroyed by the fires, and the human aspect.

It was a fantastic experience for us. The devastation was heartbreaking : Mile after mile of blackness, a house gutted, its garden burnt but the one thing that remained standing was a child's swing. That was real lump in the throat stuff. Just like the buzzard circling in the sky, its territory destroyed ....
But the solidarity just astounded us. And the pleasure we had from being with our colleagues, all from different walks of life, some wonderful moments ...
We collected our doggies from the kennels this morning and the owner said he wasn't going to charge us. I couldn't hold back my tears ....

[Lori]

Ahh, I'm so glad you are home safely.

That is an interesting review of things. I kind of figured the possibility of evacuating Bordeaux must have put the fear of God (so to speak) in all involved. Thank heavens it has not been necessary. I cannot fathom the kind of public panic that would have caused.

It is gut wrenching to watch the videos on various social media showing the devastation of the fires.

Very kind of the kennel owner. I have been very impressed at the huge reaction by the public in general to help in whatever way they could.

Get some well deserved rest Blaze. Thank you for helping in this awful emergency.

[Chappers51]

I live about 400 metres from the Dordogne /Gironde border and our community of communes has done all it can to gather donations for Gironde.

After the last elections one of our conseillers and a resident of my village, who lives not far from me, has become President of that group and made a significant difference to the way in which the different communities work together and share information; something that the previous incumbent failed to do.

Thank you Blaze and your OH for giving us your time and expertise to keep our neighbouring department safe.

[demi]

So glad you are home safely, Blaze. Have a good rest now.

I had something in my eye when I read about the kennel owner.

[Pathca]

That’s really good of the kennel owner. Glad to hear you are home safe