Latest news with #PierreBepoix
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters quell wildfires in southern France
Around 150 people were ordered to leave their homes as more than 1,000 firefighters assisted by water-bomb aircraft battled overnight to contain a wildfire that broke out in Martigues, southern France, and spread over 240 hectares of pine forest 40 kilometres to the north-west of Marseille. Two firefigheres suffered minor injuries as the blaze was brought under control on Friday afternoon. Firefighters chief Pierre Bepoix told Reuters news agency: "It was a fire that swept through relatively dense vegetation ... which made our work particularly complicated. "Obviously, priority was given to the preservation and protection of these homes and the lives that could be in these buildings." The residents were accommodated in centres in Martigues and the neighbouring town of Sausset-les-Pins. They were allowed to return to their homes on Friday afternoon, said Bruno Cassette, the sub-prefect for Aix-en-Provence. Two fires that started on Thursday in the Var region, near Fréjus were brought under control after covering a total area of 30 hectares. As a precautionary measure, 200 firefighters spent the night in the area to douse the embers and ensure the blaze was not rekindled. On 8 July, a wildfire started after a car caught fire on the side of the road just outside Marseille. Nearly 100 buildings were damaged or destroyed as the fire raged across 750 hectares between Les Pennes-Mirabeau and Marseille. It sent plumes of acrid smoke billowing into the sky, causing Marseille airport to close its runways and cancel around a dozen flights.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Hundreds of firefighters battling wildfire in southern France amid improved weather conditions
MARTIGUES, France - Nearly 1,000 firefighters and helicopters battled a wildfire about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of France's second-largest city Marseille on Friday, but officials said lower temperatures and increased humidity had improved the situation The 240-hectare (593 acres) wildfire flared up a week after a separate conflagration reached the northwestern outskirts of Marseille, forcing people to evacuate or into lockdown and temporarily shuttering the area's airport. Pierre Bepoix, the colonel of rescue operations and deputy director for the area's firefighters, said 150 people had been evacuated, but firefighters had managed to save 150 homes and portions of the area's forests. "It was a fire that swept through relatively dense vegetation ... which made our work particularly complicated," Bepoix told Reuters. "Obviously, priority was given to the preservation and protection of these homes and the lives that could be in these buildings." Local officials said in a statement that 120 homes had been threatened by the fire, adding that it was not possible yet to identify any possible damage to them, and that two firefighters had been injured. Meanwhile in Spain, a wildfire that broke out on Thursday evening in the central Toledo province and could be seen from downtown Madrid, ravaged 3,200 hectares of woodland. Regional emergency services said early on Friday firefighters had secured the perimeter, though there were concerns over strong winds and high temperatures forecast throughout the day. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Singapore Jail for contraband cigarette syndicate member over conspiracy to give bribes to security officer Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs
Reuters
6 days ago
- Climate
- Reuters
Hundreds of firefighters battling wildfire in southern France amid improved weather conditions
MARTIGUES, France, July 18 (Reuters) - Nearly 1,000 firefighters and helicopters battled a wildfire about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of France's second-largest city Marseille on Friday, but officials said lower temperatures and increased humidity had improved the situation The 240-hectare (593 acres) wildfire flared up a week after a separate conflagration reached the northwestern outskirts of Marseille, forcing people to evacuate or into lockdown and temporarily shuttering the area's airport. Pierre Bepoix, the colonel of rescue operations and deputy director for the area's firefighters, said 150 people had been evacuated, but firefighters had managed to save 150 homes and portions of the area's forests. "It was a fire that swept through relatively dense vegetation ... which made our work particularly complicated," Bepoix told Reuters. "Obviously, priority was given to the preservation and protection of these homes and the lives that could be in these buildings." Local officials said in a statement that 120 homes had been threatened by the fire, adding that it was not possible yet to identify any possible damage to them, and that two firefighters had been injured. Meanwhile in Spain, a wildfire that broke out on Thursday evening in the central Toledo province and could be seen from downtown Madrid, ravaged 3,200 hectares of woodland. Regional emergency services said early on Friday firefighters had secured the perimeter, though there were concerns over strong winds and high temperatures forecast throughout the day.
