Southern Europe is groaning under the forest fires. In France, as many as 6,000 campers were evacuated. Also firefighter Dieter Bonte (43) from Bruges. In the middle of the night, he and his family had to leave the campsite at Dune du Pilat. “The fire spread very quickly,” he says. A first hand testimony.
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More than 1,700 hectares of pine forest destroyed in just 12 hours. In the Gironde, a department in southern France, hundreds of firefighters are running from under their bodies to get the forest fires under control. The largest fire is at Landiras, about forty kilometers from Bordeaux. 500 residents have already been evacuated there.
But most tourists are struck by the Dune du Pilat – the largest dune in Europe. There are numerous campsites along the coastline. About 6,000 campers have now been brought to safety. Also Evi Van den Broek (33) and her husband Dieter Bonte (43) from Bruges. “We were woken up at three in the morning”, Evi testifies.
Together with their son Jesse (3) and friend Katia Somers (34) the young mother pitched her tent on Saturday. They wanted to stay until Saturday for a pleasant week of sun, sea and beach. Though it turned out differently. “Yesterday (Tuesday, ed.) I saw the first plume of smoke rise around 4 pm”, Dieter says. “The fire spread very quickly. Around 6.30 pm the first fire-fighting planes flew over our heads. Impressive to see.”
Dieter was itching to roll up his sleeves too. He has been working for the Bruges fire brigade since he was eighteen. “If they needed help, I would have jumped in,” he says bravely, “but I don’t like it when others come and tell me what to do. In addition, we have little experience with forest fires in Flanders. Each has its own speciality. And it must be said: the evacuation was top-notch.”
Dieter shot some images of the fires himself. Photo: Dieter
Dieter shot some images of the fires himself. Photo: Dieter
In haste, Evi and Dieter left their belongings at the campsite. Photo: Dieter
In haste, Evi and Dieter left their belongings at the campsite. Photo: Dieter
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
Fire-fighting planes scoop water from the sea and then scatter it over the forests that are not yet on fire. Photo: AFP
Fire-fighting planes scoop water from the sea and then scatter it over the forests that are not yet on fire. Photo: AFP
‘Don’t let it get to us’
According to Dieter, the fact that the family suddenly had to get up in the middle of the night has to do with the wind. “Our campsite was closest to the seat of the fire. I had checked the weather report again just before going to sleep and the wind was blowing away from the campsite. However, it must have turned at night. Some guests have the flames within a few meters of their seen a motorhome.”
They had to leave their tent and all other camping equipment behind. “We don’t know whether our belongings survived the fire,” says Evi. “But honestly? We’re not going to let this get to us.” While Dieter arranged all the practicalities, Katia and Evi took Jesse to a nearby amusement park. “My son said for the first time this morning that he also wants to become a firefighter himself,” beams Evi. “I stay positive and enjoy my conge†
One small point of criticism: the travel insurance could be better, according to Evi and Dieter. “Apparently a temporary reception center had been set up, but we were not aware of that. So we went to a hotel at night, a simple IBIS. That cost us 270 euros, but apparently it is not reimbursed. Natural disasters apparently fall outside our scope insurance. Then why are we dutifully paying for it all these years?”
Hiding Levi’s advertising or biblical scene? Forest fires in Portugal provide an iconic image
Photo: ANP
Photo: ANP
Forest fires have not only broken out in France in recent days. It is also very hot in Spain and Portugal – with temperatures above 40 degrees. In the Portuguese district of Leiria, in the center of the country, 3,000 firefighters are trying to get the flames under control. Residents are fleeing, such as this man in the village of Boa Vista. With his sheep in his neck, the young man seeks better places. Just before, he and two friends wet the animal to save it from dehydration. In the image, the sheep is looking straight into the lens. The man can then again apply as a model at Levi’s underwear brand. In short, a lot of beauty in the almost biblical scene. Were it not for the fact that more than 30 Portuguese were already injured in the fires and hundreds of hectares of forest went up in smoke. Portugal hopes to avoid a repeat of 2017. At that time, more than 100 people lost their lives in particularly severe forest fires.