Firefighters are intensifying their efforts on Monday in Corsica to put an end to a fire which has been raging since Thursday near Aullène in Corse-du-Sud.
In total, 5.500 to 6.000 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed since Thursday in three fires - one near Aullène, one in the Péri plain near Ajaccio and a last between Sartène and Bonifacio. For now, the last two are fixed and under surveillance. Around Aullène, in the heart of the Corsican regional park where 3.500 hectares of forest and scrub have already burned down, the firefighters have decided to diversify the modes of attack to overcome the outbreaks. In addition to the tons of water and retardant spilled by the Canadair and Dash to weaken the fire, the command decided to draw a line, i.e. to shave the vegetation over a width of 5 to 10 meters and over several hundred meters long, to prevent the flames from passing, explained Commander Bruno Maestracci. "Of course, it can only be effective if we reduce the intensity of the fire. If the flames are ten meters high, they will jump the obstacle and it will be useless," said the officer.
Eight arrests
The overall burnt area has hardly changed because the current fire is devouring portions of the forest that had been spared until then, within the area concerned. "When the fire advances at high speed as was the case until Saturday, all the plant is not consumed and this gives rise to resumptions", explained Commander Maestracci. The firefighters are thus working to hold the passes of Vaccia and Siu, two locks to the north and south of Aullène, to avoid seeing the flames fall below and ravage other valleys.
On the investigation front, eight suspected arsonists were arrested on the Isle of Beauty in about ten days. Among them, two young farmers, aged 21 and 24, were sentenced Monday to two years and eight months respectively in prison for willful destruction by fire. During the day, the gendarmes of the Ajaccio search brigade also arrested a young man of 22 years old and his accomplice in Sari d'Orcino, in Corse-du-Sud. According to investigators, the young man admitted to having carried out fires quickly extinguished by firefighters, north of Ajaccio on July 8 and 14. Two other arsonists arrested in Haute-Corse are also behind bars awaiting trial in October. Another man suspected of having started a fire was arrested in Haute-Corse but, not having all his reason, he was placed in a psychiatric hospital. Finally a 68-year-old man, arrested near Evisa, was indicted for "involuntary destruction by fire", for having set fire to the forest by burning used tablecloths in the courtyard of his hotel. Under judicial control, he will be tried Tuesday in Ajaccio for immediate appearance.
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