As the temperatures in southwestern France continue to soar, residents and local authorities are bracing themselves for what could be an unprecedented wildfire season. With a lack of rainfall and high winds, the countryside is already dry and prone to fire. This year, however, the danger is heightened due to the record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe. The scorched earth and blackened trees seen in recent years have become a stark reminder of the devastation caused by wildfires, and the threat facing France has prompted authorities to take extreme measures to prevent and manage the spread of fires.
The ongoing wildfire in Hostens, Gironde in the southwest of France is still burning eight months after it first broke out. The fire is underground, and the brown coal in the peaty soil is fuelling it, producing columns of white, acrid smoke and a smell similar to burning tyres. Guillaume Carnir, who works for France’s National Forest Agency, said there is no clear answer as to how to stop the blaze to date. This remnant of the huge wildfires that ravaged southern Europe last summer is feared as a cause of new fires, especially as the dry winter across parts of southern Europe reduces moisture in the soil and increases the risk of fires.
The Gironde region was hit hard last summer, with 20,000 hectares of forest destroyed. Governments across Europe are taking action to prepare forests for climate change with better scrub clearance, more hardwood trees and steps to prevent fires. The risk of failure to do so includes collapsing soils, falling trees and uncontrollable, devastating fires which not only devastate habitats but also destroy homes and businesses.
Spain’s first major wildfire of the year began last week in the eastern Valencia region, destroying over 3,000 hectares of forest and forcing 1,500 residents to abandon their homes. The fire-fighters managed to save most of the inhabitants’ homes. It has been advised that prevention is crucial, as well as swift intervention when a fire starts, which is made easier from above.
The residents of the Origne village in Gironde who were displaced during a two-week long wildfire last July are still devastated by the disaster. They maintain that clear pathways and firebreaks in forests are key to slowing down wildfires. While the mayor of the village, Vincent Dedieu, feels abandoned since the disaster, it has been suggested that diversifying varieties of trees would make the forest more resilient. Some forest managers, such as Pierre Berges, have been busy salvaging burnt trees as some wood is still in good condition, which businesses are converting into lumber, timber and fuel.
Experts suggest that planting more hardwood trees, such as oak or birch, would make forests more resilient to climate change. However, planting pine is more economically favourable to private landowners due to its rapid growth into marketable timber. Despite this, forest actors have been encouraged to bring in more diversity to help protect forests from parasites and minimise the risks of fires spreading. However, finding seeds might become a challenge in the future as climate change impacts the trees’ ability to bear fruit.
