Drought conditions and heatwaves worsen forest fires in France • FRANCE 24 English

This village in southwestern France, local authorities are doing all they can to protect the environment. There’s a high risk of wildfires. Access to the hills is banned until the end of the week. A ban that suggests a grueling summer ahead with the threat of fires looming large. Last year in France, 4,591 outbreaks were recorded by the start of July. 5,97 have already been reported for the same period this year. Partly responsible for this increase is a particularly rainy March that made vegetation more dense. With the June heat wave and periods of drought, forests have become highly flammable. In Mari, there was 99% less rainfall this year than usual. A lack of rain that has been worsening for several years now, as is the case in the city of Narburn, where only 5.4 mm of rain fell last month. For firefighters, this points to a high-risisk summer. Conditions in the 3030 303030 rule are a particular cause for concern. Temperatures in excess of 30°, winds in excess of 30 kmh and air humidity below 30%. A dangerous mix, especially when combined with a particular kind of wind known as traantine wind. It’s a continental wind, which means it has much less humidity than if it came from the sea. This means it acts like a haird dryer on areas that are already fully dried out. In light of the increased fire risks, new technologies are being developed, including cameras that use AI for early detection of blazes.

Wildfires across western Europe are intensifying due to persistent drought and heatwaves that have left forests bone-dry and winds fan the flames. In Marseille, a recent wildfire triggered by a vehicle fire near Les Pennes-Mirabeau has spread to the city’s outskirts—burning over 700 hectares.
#heatwaves #fire #France

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