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Four firefighters injured tackling blaze near Bergerac airport
Some 15 residents living near the Dordogne airport were evacuated
Four firefighters have been injured, one seriously, after inhaling smoke while tackling a blaze near Bergerac airport.
The fire broke out at around 20:00 last night (September 29) in scrublands and an old orchard around 400 metres from the Dordogne airport, alongside the D14 road.
The road was subsequently closed as firefighters scrambled to tackle the fire, which burned four hectares of land before being contained just before midnight. It was put out this morning, reports Bergerac mairie.
Firefighters had to tackle a combination of extremely dry vegetation and strong winds fanning the flames.
Airport operations are unaffected today, with the three scheduled flights between Bergerac and Liverpool, East Midlands, and London Stansted all scheduled to run as planned.
An incident last weekend in Carcassonne saw firefighters scramble to contain a blaze that broke out at the airport.
Firefighter hospitalised
Around 60 firefighters and 30 engines tackled the blaze, preventing it from spreading.
Around 15 people were evacuated by the authorities as a precaution, with the blaze coming close to homes in the Saint-Christophe area.
One abandoned home was burned, and two other homes were threatened by the flames but saved by firefighters.
Four firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation, with one evacuated to Bordeaux hospital with more serious injuries.
“He required specialised medical care that was only available in Bordeaux,” Bergerac mayor Fabien Ruet told media outlet Ici.
