Forest fires

[Blaze]

The peaty subsurface causing fires to reignite has caused problems here. Although fires give the appearance of having been put out, the pompiers have to stay on and continue damping down. The use of thermal imaging has been a great help in finding hot spots.

[rabbit]

Another fire in our department, this time to the west of Rennes in the forêt de Broceliande

we are 70kms from broceliande and could smell the smoke. Those poor pompiers in protective clothing with 35c temp and goodness knows how hot near the fires. They deserve our utmost respect

[exile]

A bit too close for comfort
IMG_2543 (2).JPG

Edit to add: In case you missed it, the plane just left of centre is a Canadair.

So how far do they have to go to "scoop" - surely not the sea?

I believe they take on water from the Rhone. There are several hydro-barrages with a straight section on the upstream side. It seemed to be a 15-20 minute turn around so certainly not from the sea.

[exile]

One of the problems being while heavy downpours will extinguish the flames, the peaty subsurface keeps smouldering.
Keep safe everyone.

I agree that sub-surface burning of peat can be a serious problem. However peat does not form on steep mountainsides so in our case it is not an issue.

[Blaze]

Another fire in our department, this time to the west of Rennes in the forêt de Broceliande

we are 70kms from broceliande and could smell the smoke. Those poor pompiers in protective clothing with 35c temp and goodness knows how hot near the fires. They deserve our utmost respect

We're a bit further away and what wind there was was from the north.
Re the protective clothing, it weighs a ton ! But in fact it insulates them from the heat which is why they can get so close. As long as they aren't hot when they get dressed, the clothing will keep them from overheating.

[Blaze]

One of the problems being while heavy downpours will extinguish the flames, the peaty subsurface keeps smouldering.
Keep safe everyone.

I agree that sub-surface burning of peat can be a serious problem. However peat does not form on steep mountainsides so in our case it is not an issue.

You're fortunate ! Brittany is very peaty as it is in the Gironde where the fires were very serious because they kept re-igniting.

[exile]

Well the real personal downside of the fire is now apparent apart from the very visual scars on the mountainside. My favourite patch of sloe bushes has been crisped and it will be many years before there are fresh crops there. My sloe gin stock will have to be eked out until I find fresh alternatives.