Fire risk in Gard: guards and gendarmes patrol to remind people of prohibitions and rules

The ONF agents, from the French Office of Diversity, patrolled the Sautadet waterfalls all afternoon. Midi Libre – C.R.

This Sunday, August 4, guards from the National Forestry Office, gendarmes and agents from the National Office of Diversity patrolled the Sautadet waterfalls together to remind people of the fire risks and the rules to follow.

Certainly, the forests benefited from the stormy rains that fell during the night from Friday to Saturday. This is a welcome respite for the Gard. But this Sunday, the risk of fire was still present and strong. The rules of caution and prohibitions must be respected.

A barbecue on the banks of the Cèze

On the magnificent site of the Sautadet waterfalls, in La Roque-sur-Cèze, a small group of regulars – rather mocking – have set up their barbecue, on the banks of the Céze. The fire is out. The group had already been spotted a little earlier by the guards who reminded them that it was forbidden to make fires.

“We know the risk of fire, protests one of the holidaymakers. We know how to do it. We set up the barbecue near the water.”David Massa (National Forestry Office) is, this time, accompanied by colleagues from the National Biodiversity Office and the gendarmes of Pont-Saint-Esprit – Cornillon led by Captain Pallu. “90% of fires are of human origin, recalls Carole Troy (Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea) who accompanies them. Today, the risk is moderate. But the wind is blowing. The temperature is high. The trees and grass are dry. We must not let up the pressure."

Inter-service patrols

These inter-service patrols (National Forestry Office; National Diversity Office and the gendarmerie) will be launched during the summer, on the ground, to remind people of the fire risks, the prohibitions and to issue fines, if necessary. "This night, we spotted a large bivouac at Méjannes-le-Clap. They were smoking, one of the guards recalls. Gard Rhodanien was classified as high risk this Sunday. 

Information to be distributed on all sites

The fire risk level is classified as low, moderate, high or very high. The Gard prefecture has distributed, in three languages, a table reminding the prohibitions, according to the risks. Bivouac may therefore be authorized or not depending on the level of risk. And it is forbidden to smoke within 200 meters of a massif. " A fire that escapes. In 2 minutes, we can no longer fight… And we then hope for the arrival of help", remind these professionals

This information was distributed to municipalities and various site managers. In La Roque-sur-Cèze, this document was not displayed at the entrance to the Sautadet waterfalls site.

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