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France - fires
French army blamed for Marseille wildfire
Article published on the 2009-07-24 Latest update 2009-07-24 10:04 TU
Fires threaten the French city of Marseille
(Photo: Reuters)
A French army officer has been taken into custody, blamed for starting a sweeping wildfire on the outskirts of Marseille. Fires are also still raging in Corsica, fanned by high temperatures and strong winds.
The 43-year-old officer, based at the military camp at Carpiagne close to Marseille, was suspended from his duties after ordering a military exercise that led to the blaze. It led to flames ripping through 1,300 hectares of brush and damaged homes near the Mediterranean port.
The fire began during the day on Wednesday but has now been contained.
Local prefect Michel Sappin, the French government's senior regional official and police chief, attacked the "imbecilic" actions of the military, while Prime Minister Francois Fillon also laid the blame for the fire squarely on the shoulders of the military.
"This fire was clearly triggered by a professional error," he said.
"Tracer rounds are outlawed, not only during this period but in principle in all camps in the south."
Defence Minister Hervé Morin termed it an "extremely regrettable, deplorable act".
The region is prone to forest fires in the summer and conditions have been worsened by temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius and a strong wind.
Though no one was killed, one fireman suffered burns and four rescuers were treated for smoke inhalation.
In Corsica, hundreds of firefighters are still battling to put out two of the three fires that broke out on Thursday.
Around 4,000 hectares of brush and woodland in the south of the island have been burnt with houses near the city of Ajaccio coming under threat. Two villages close to Ajaccio were evacuated on Thursday
About 50 cars and ten homes were destroyed. Five firefighters have been slightly injured.
Ten water-dropping planes had been sent to help contain the blaze which has cut the main road between Ajaccio and Bastia, toppled telephone poles and filled the air with thick black smoke.
Wildfires have been affecting other parts of southern Europe. In northern Spain, at least five firefighters have been killed while two people have died in Sardinia
Fires have also destroyed forests and farmland in southern Greece, with the island of Evia among the areas worst hit.
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