Fires in Hérault: fire fixed in Frontignan, another one still progressing

The fire that broke out between Gigean and Frontignan, in Hérault, is fixed this Monday, August 19, but fires may start again. Another fire is hitting the department and is not yet under control.

It is one of the largest fires of the summer of 2024: more than 320 hectares have burned in Hérault. The fire broke out on the afternoon of Sunday 18 August, around 3 p.m., between Gigean and Frontignan, 150 metres from the A9 motorway and progressed southwards under the effect of the wind. The fire was put out by the firefighters, announced the prefecture of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, on France Bleu Hérault on the morning of Monday, August 19.

No fewer than five Canadairs, three Dashes and two Bombardier helicopters have been mobilized to stem the spread of the flames since Sunday afternoon and have carried out more than 150 drops. 200 vehicles have also been deployed on the ground to reinforce 450 firefighters who have continued to contain the flames and neutralize the rekindling of fires during the night from Sunday to Monday. Up to 600 firefighters have been deployed mobilized on Sunday with the arrival of 200 firefighters from Bouches-du-Rhône as reinforcements. 

Another fire "is not fixed for the moment"

If the fire that burned between Gigean and Frontignan is fixed, it still poses significant risks of rekindling and still requires the intervention of firefighters. The firefighters are also mobilized on another fire that broke out in the pine forest to the west of Hérault, in Nissan-lez-Enserune. This fire “is not yet fixed” and has burned 60 hectares, François-Xavier Lauch told France Bleu. The resigning Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, is expected in the department this Monday. The two fires risk being fanned by the wind as gusts of up to 50 km/h are expected this Monday.

The origins of the fires are unknown

The causes of the two fires are currently unknown. “We are not ruling anything out at this stage” said the prefect of Hérault. Criminal or accidental, the origins of fires are human in nine out of ten cases, as the various departmental fire and rescue services (Sdis) have been repeating for several years.

The fires did not cause any injuries in Hérault, even if some material damage was to be deplored: a house destroyed by the flames as well as some other infrastructures. The city of Frontignan has however activated its municipal rescue plan and evacuated several residents as well as a camp for travelers to the north of the city. About fifteen people were welcomed in the municipal gymnasium before being able to return home during the night.