As the massive wildfire in Gironde remains stabilized but not fully extinguished, a stern warning has been issued to well-meaning civilians. The mayor of Lège-Cap-Ferret, de Gonneville, has publicly urged volunteers to cease unauthorized interventions in the forest, emphasizing that their actions are endangering lives and hindering professional operations.
A “Precious” but “Ambivalent” Contribution
Speaking to franceinfo on Wednesday, July 29, de Gonneville addressed the growing number of residents taking it upon themselves to combat smoldering hotspots, known locally as “fumerons.” While acknowledging that such help can be “precious for extinguishing fumerons” and preventing flare-ups once the main fire front has passed, he described the overall impact of these initiatives as “ambivalent.”
His comments come as the region faces another day of extreme fire danger. The fire, which has already scorched 42,000 hectares, is under constant threat of reignition due to a perilous weather cocktail: temperatures forecast between 38 and 41°C combined with westerly wind gusts.
Aerial Operations Halted by Civilian Presence
The mayor’s warning was not hypothetical. He revealed a concrete incident where uncoordinated volunteer activity directly compromised the emergency response. “I know that yesterday, we were forced to interrupt aerial action because there were people in the forest in places that had become dangerous,” de Gonneville reported.
He issued a clear and forceful directive to the public, drawing a sharp line between supportive roles and dangerous freelancing. “Yes to intervention in support of professionals for the fumerons, no to isolated interventions in the forest to play firefighter when you are not one,” he stated.
Key Directives from the Mayor
De Gonneville’s message to the public was uncompromising in its call for discipline and coordination. He laid out several critical points for civilians eager to help:
- Avoid personal initiative: Do not enter the forest independently to tackle hotspots.
- Wait for instructions: All actions must be directed and coordinated by professional firefighters.
- Prioritize safety: Untrained individuals are putting their own lives at severe risk.
- Do not obstruct: Unauthorized presence can force the suspension of critical air and ground operations.
“You must keep a sense of proportion… the firefighters must have control of the fire,” de Gonneville insisted. He concluded with a direct appeal to those without professional training: “Do not take risks, you who are not fire professionals.”
The prefecture confirmed that firefighters had to rapidly treat “several” fire flare-ups overnight, underscoring the volatile situation. As the heatwave intensifies, authorities are racing to maintain control, relying on the public to follow safety instructions and leave the dangerous work to the professionals.
