Traveling in the Var, Emmanuel Macron promised Monday that the municipalities of the department affected this summer by major fires will benefit from “the same aid measures” as in Gironde. Referring to the measures unveiled the same day by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu for the municipalities of Gironde and Landes, the Head of State assured that in the Var “the same systems will be put in place (…) the same support mechanisms for the municipalities, for the economic forces, for our compatriots” in order to “come to the aid of those who have been affected. »
In recent weeks, several fires have affected the Var, the largest of which covered 6,300 hectares in the Gros Bessillon massif and struck several villages in “Green Provence”. It required 18 days of fighting by French and European firefighters. “It was the longest fire in the history of Var,” commented Emmanuel Macron, who spoke earlier in the afternoon with the mayors of municipalities affected by the fires.
A tribute to “France that resists fire”
Some 6,000 people were evacuated and dozens of houses were damaged in several towns, notably Cotignac, Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens. “The fire arrived early, earlier than expected… It was terrible,” said the head of theEtat speaking from Bormes-les-Mimosas, where he commemorated the landing in Provence 82 years ago. “We must remain vigilant, we know that the season is not over,” he warned, paying tribute to “France which resists fire”: firefighters, emergency services, soldiers, law enforcement, volunteers.
He also called for “learning lessons” from these ordeals: “we will have to think about the future, to reforest, perhaps to invent other forms of activity to better protect our towns and villages, to be even tougher on clearing brush, to allow our foresters to do their work in better conditions and to help our firefighters intervene even more quickly. (…) and know how to cut the fire in the right places. »
12 million euros for Gironde and Landes
While traveling in Gironde, hit by a megafire which covered 42,000 hectares this summer, the Prime Minister promised “to bring out the heavy artillery” to rebuild. He mentioned in particular 12 million euros of funding provided to the departments of Gironde and Landes, but also an acceleration of building permits and tax adjustments for businesses.
After the Gironde, Sébastien Lecornu also goes to the Var to participate with the head of theEtat at a dinner with notably elected officials and ministers.
