Fires in the South of France: campsite evacuated, 11 slightly injured

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00:00Seen here from the sky, the 350 hectares of pine forest ravaged by flames in the coastal

00:06town of Fontignon.

00:09After breaking out Sunday afternoon, 600 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, but despite

00:14controlling the blaze, they couldn't save this house, where Sandra has lived for 11

00:19years.

00:20All my work, all my family photos, it's a disaster.

00:27Around half the firefighters are expected to stay in the area to work on the site should

00:31another blaze ensue.

00:33But it's not the only southern French region struck by wildfires.

00:38Further down the Mediterranean coast, in Quenez-en-Ruisson, a fire fanned by strong winds forced 3,000

00:44holidaymakers to evacuate a campsite in the middle of the night.

00:48In the morning, one owner came to see the damage, but this is all that's left of her

00:52mobile home.

00:53Though she wasn't present while the fire broke out, she was hosting two people who were luckily

00:57safe and sound.

01:00I wasn't worried about the house.

01:01I was thinking about the tenants.

01:03They're doing okay, so I feel reassured.

01:05Despite 11 minor injuries, 2,500 holidaymakers were able to return to the campsite.

01:11Some 20 kilometres away in Argelès-sur-Mer, the wildfire risk has been classed as extreme,

01:17so firefighters have been stationed in the most sensitive areas.

01:21We've got the recipe today for a fire to grow quickly, especially with the temperature,

01:25the water level and the drought, so we're here so we can intervene as fast as possible.

01:30According to the French Interior Minister, this season has seen fewer forest fires than

01:34last year, with around 4,000 hectares burnt since the season started compared to 12,000

01:39at the same time in 2023.

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