In the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône and Hérault, entry into seven forest massifs and four others is currently prohibited due to the risk of fires. Authorities have taken this measure to prevent any fire outbreaks and to protect the fauna and flora of these sensitive areas. It is essential to respect these prohibitions to avoid any risk of ignition and to preserve these fragile ecosystems. Visitors are encouraged to regularly check access conditions to forest massifs to ensure the safety of all.
Seven forest massifs in Bouches-du-Rhône will be closed on Monday, August 19, due to forest fires, announced the department prefecture in a statement. The massifs of Alpilles, Chambremont, Castillon, Montagnette, Rougadou, Sulauze, as well as the industrial-port zone of Fos-sur-Mer will be affected by this measure. However, access to the 19 other forest massifs in the department will be allowed starting tomorrow, unlike what was in effect on Sunday.
The prefecture justifies this decision by a “severe risk of forest fires” due to a strong mistral wind expected until mid-afternoon, with gusts reaching up to 65 km/h.
### Six departments on orange alert
In Hérault, several massifs are also affected by this preventive measure: Mont Saint-Loup (near Agde), Forêt des Pierres-Blanches (near Sète), Causse d’Aumelas and Colline de la Moure, Cirque de Mourèze and Montagne de Liausson. Two areas are particularly discouraged for the public: Colline du centre Hérault and Plaine viticole cœur d’Hérault et les plaines littorales.
Météo France has placed six departments on orange alert for “forest fires” for Monday, indicating a “high risk”: Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Drôme, Hérault, Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales.
Article Source: Francetvinfo
