France’s Government Warns of Climate Change’s Impact on Forest Fires
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin visited a southern French zone on Monday to assess the situation, where firefighters have been battling the largest forest fire in the country so far this year.
The blaze erupted on Sunday and quickly spread to more than 1,000 hectares of land along the Mediterranean coast, eventually spreading across the border into northeastern Spain. This alarming trend prompted the French government to warn about the rising risk of forest fires due to climate change.
Early Start to Fire Season in France
Historically, forest fires in France typically started later in the year, but due to global warming, the fire season is starting early. Scientists predict that the frequency and intensity of these wildfires will increase as the Mediterranean region is warming faster than the global average. Last year’s drought in France, compounded by the lack of rain this past winter, have made already-dry woodlands even more vulnerable to forest fires.
Preventing Forest Fires
French authorities are encouraging homeowners to thin out trees and scrublands around their properties to reduce the risk of fires. They also appeal to the public to take extra care to avoid starting fires inadvertently. Firefighters and water-bombing planes have been deployed to tackle Sunday’s forest fire between Banyuls-sur-Mer and Cerbère in southern France.
While the blaze has been successfully contained, the fire crews are still working to put out the remaining flames and stop its spread. On the Spanish side, the fires near the town of Portbou were still active but had been stabilized and were no longer spreading.
Conclusions
France’s government has sounded the alarm on the increasing danger of forest fires, emphasizing that climate change is the root cause.
The early start of the fire season, the increasing frequency and intensity of these fires, and the vulnerability of the Mediterranean region to global warming all indicate that this problem will continue to worsen. It is crucial that preventive measures are taken, such as the thinning out of trees and scrub lands, and that people exercise caution to avoid inadvertently starting fires.
SOURCE: Ref- https://www.euronews.com/
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