Why ground in south-west france is still burning from 2022 forest fire

EXPERTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE KNOCK ON EFFECT OF THESE SMALLER FIRES Some parts of the ground in south-west France are still burning from a forest fire which started in 2022. The soil of the

Hostens Forest (Gironde) continues to burn from the inside - almost a year and a half after it initially started - due to the presence of an old lignite (natural coal) mine within the local

soil. The forest fires ignited this lignite within the subsoil and the combustible rock now continues to gradually burn out of the ground. "We end up with several exits, several

chimneys which evacuate the heat," Franck Uteau, an environmental engineer for the Gironde departmental council, told _BFMTV_. A total of 20 hectares still have active outbreaks despite

the rains of recent weeks. READ MORE: THOUSANDS EVACUATED AS FOREST FIRE RAGES IN SOUTH FRANCE TOURIST SPOT RISK OF NEW FIRES Officials worry that in the event of a severe drought these

could start new fires. In an attempt to guard against such an eventuality local authorities are doubling their vigilance in the area. In addition to the environmental risks there is also a

danger for potential walkers as the collapse of ash pockets could drop a walker into an effective underground furnace. Once the issue is resolved the department will aim to re-nature the

forest. The Gironde department and its municipalities are looking for ways to protect communities against forest fires. > Gestion des #risques : le Département de la #Gironde lance un 

appel > à projets #résilience des territoires face aux #feuxdeforêts pour > accompagner les #collectivités sur le plan financier et technique. >  > 

➡️https://t.co/pvBkYZDgPB#JNR2023 #EPCI > pic.twitter.com/XZpBhQkzKM > — Gironde (@gironde) October 13, 2023 DEVASTATION OF 2022 High temperatures have seen heightened forest fire

warnings issued for parts of southern France in the past few years. 2022 was a particularly disastrous year, with a total of 19,821 fires burning 72,000ha across the country. Four major

wildfires hit Gironde in the summer of 2022. The last was a huge wildfire which burned around 3,500 hectares of forest in September that year. The blazes forced around 1,800 locals to flee

the area, particularly from the villages of Saumos and Sainte-Hélène, west of Bordeaux. READ MORE: GIRONDE WILDFIRE UPDATE: 1,200 LOCALS EVACUATED, 3,600 HECTARES BURNED HUMAN CARELESSNESS

AND LITTERING In the past 15 years, there have been on average 15,000 wildfires each year, 90% of which are of human origin. The public are advised to never smoke in forests, woods, or dry

vegetation areas and to never discard cigarette butts in nature. They are also reminded not to have barbecues or fires close to any vegetation and not to carry out mechanical work close to

dry grass or vegetation. Finally residents must clear their land of dry or built-up vegetation (débroussaillement) which is MANDATORY IN SOME AREAS to reduce the risk of fire. READ ALSO

FRANCE WILDFIRE: PEOPLE WHO DID NOT CLEAR GARDENS FACE LEGAL ACTION HOUSES DESTROYED AS FOREST FIRE RAGES AT SOUTH OF FRANCE TOURIST SPOT