Man held after burning garden waste sparks Dordogne fire
Others fined for starting fires to burn vegetation in their gardens with one living close to a forest in Charente-Maritime
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A Dordogne resident has been taken into police custody after a blaze broke out as he cleared overgrowth and burnt garden waste on his property.
The arrest comes as France grapples with several large wildfires and authorities warn about the rapid spread of fires in hot and dry conditions. Four firefighters have lost their lives.
The case was confirmed to The Connexion by the Brigade de Bergerac, which said two people, a man and a woman, were placed in garde à vue (in custody) separately after lightning fires independently in their gardens.
The man, a 43-year-old from Saint-Nexans, near Bergerac, was arrested for starting a blaze on July 25.
Reports indicate the man had been clearing brush and attempted to burn the garden waste he had collected when the flames spread, burning around 50 square metres of land.
Emergency services were contacted by his neighbour. The man had reportedly tried to put out the fire himself with water but did not contact the emergency services.
A second person, a 52-year old woman in the same commune, was also detained after burning waste in her garden and was later ordered to make an €800 payment to a victims’ support association as part of a citizen contribution measure.
The incidents came when the department had been placed on severe wildfire risk, citing particularly unfavourable weather conditions including high temperatures, dry vegetation, low humidity and wind.
These were not the only people caught burning vegetation during the period of heightened fire risk. In Charente-Maritime, a woman in her seventies was reportedly fined €135 after burning green waste in her garden less than 200m from the Suzac forest.
In general, a person who burns green waste can face a fine up to €750. However, in this case, the €750 was not applied because no fire broke out as a result of the burning.
Across France human activity, deliberate or accidental, is responsible for nearly nine in 10 wildfires where the cause has been identified.
What is banned during periods of high fire danger?
When wildfire risk reaches higher levels, restrictions can become much stricter.
In Dordogne, for example, during the current severe risk situation, the following activities are prohibited in sensitive wildfire areas:
burning vegetation
firework displays
fires linked to festive events
mobile barbecues, camping stoves, campfires and similar devices
Authorities can also introduce additional measures, such as restrictions on access to sensitive forest areas during the most dangerous hours.
These rules are designed to prevent accidental fires caused by sparks, embers or unattended flames.
What should residents do with garden waste?
Burning green waste has been prohibited since 2011 with very few exceptions that can vary between departments and communes. Residents should always check with their local prefecture or mairie if they need to burn vegetation.
Instead of burning branches, leaves and cut vegetation, residents are advised to:
compost green waste
use a garden shredder and reuse material as mulch
take it to a local déchetterie (waste disposal centre)
check local rules before considering any authorised burning
A small garden fire can become a serious wildfire within minutes, especially when vegetation is dry and weather conditions are favourable for flames to spread.
Breaking fire restrictions can result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
