Crop fires are increasing in Allier and Vendée due to drought. Around thirty hectares of crops have burned since June 15, often caused by agricultural machinery. Faced with these stubble fires, firefighters recommend harvesting at night.
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Stubbles on fire. On the afternoon of Tuesday June 16 in Allier, several fire trucks intervened to put out this fire with the support of a water bomber helicopter. The cause of the fire was an agricultural machine. “There was a meter of flames around and the tractor driver was in the middle of the field. So he had to call the firefighters. I called the firefighters from behind and I was very scared,” indicates a witness.
Since Monday June 15 in the Allier department, around thirty hectares of crops have gone up in smoke. Same scenario with this combine harvester in Sainte-Soulle in Charente-Maritime. Temperatures are high for the season, the soils are dry. All it took was a spark at harvest time. The fire is gone. Four hectares of crops were ravaged.
A tragedy that Jean-Michel Jaud also experienced on his farm in Vendée. The barley is calcined, 5 hectares have gone up in smoke. Unheard of in 40 years for this farmer. “There’s nothing left. It’s catastrophic. I can’t imagine this in 30 years. If it continues to rise in temperature like this all the time, after a while there will be big problems”estimates the farmer.
Never before seen either for the Vendée firefighters, who intervened 27 times yesterday for agricultural fires, a record number for June 15. In order to prevent these fires from starting, he advises harvesting at night or very early in the morning.
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