Oléron Island: increased vigilance in campsites against the risk of forest fires

While the risk of fire is high during the summer, some campsites are implementing safety measures to reduce the risks. For example, in Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron

For over a week, residents of the Le Prélong campsite, in L'Ileau in the commune of Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, had been unable to light barbecues. "Given the severe risk of forest fires, wood-burning barbecues are strictly prohibited," warned a poster. The ban, decided by the campsite management, was lifted on Monday, August 18, as the fire risk was reduced.

Marie, who manages the campsite alongside her husband Thierry, consults the GéoSDIS17 app daily, which provides information on forest fire risks. This vigilance is justified after the heatwaves of recent days. Fires are becoming increasingly common in the Charente-Maritime department, and the island of Oléron is not spared.

"We had already made a request to the town hall at the beginning of July to hold our traditional églades (a local technique for cooking mussels in a pine needle fire, editor's note) on Wednesday evenings," explains Marie. She was therefore forced to ban the églades on certain Wednesdays when fire risks required it.

With barbecues surrounded by a wooded area, Thierry and Marie had decided to temporarily ban their use. "People often don't pay attention to their fire. Even though we have a garden hose and a fire extinguisher nearby, we don't want to take any risks," Marie admits. She goes on to explain that she has older barbecues that no longer exactly meet current standards. All the more reason to be extra vigilant.

She says she's following the prefecture's current measures to protect herself as best as possible. In her office, she carefully keeps two prefectural decrees in a binder. One concerning natural risks in campsites dated December 19, 2023, and the other on the use of fire dated July ^1, 2024, which notably banned several fireworks. "I refer to these texts and adapt accordingly," Marie confides.

Marie adds that the holidaymakers were quite concerned and accommodating about this measure. "We just had to explain the reason and they understood," says the manager. Most of the time, her husband Thierry lends the holidaymakers grills and even charcoal for barbecues.

Roman, a seasonal worker at the Prélong campsite and a fan of roasted Camembert, was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to use barbecues again. He's not alone. Several campsite regulars have, in the meantime, opted for plancha grills. A safer alternative to the risk of fire spreading. These vacationers will once again be able to share a friendly barbecue moment playing pétanque while waiting for the sausages to cook, as usual.