Tuesday, August 5th at 16:15 p.m., from the Corbières road, a huge cloud rises in the sky—an ominous omen. A little over an hour later, the first Canadairs appear: three Canadairs emerge, aluminum birds with water bellies. There will be nine of them dancing in the skies for three days, to the rhythm of the flames and the wind.
Villages are forced to evacuate. Firefighters from all over France unite in the fight. And the rugged and proud land of the Corbières reveals its heart: Citizens and farmers weave a chain of solidarity, a deep, tenacious bond that still endures—like a root in the rock, faithful to the spirit of the country.
From the hills of HollidayThe fire spread, brushing against sixteen communes like an unexpected gust of wind. But it was the singing pine forests, the hiking trails lined with thyme and rosemary, and the vineyards in the morning that saw their colours extinguished under the burning hand.
But we are not here to report this event, that is not our role, I prefer to share it with you this article byAnne Kerloc'h, originally from Corbières and editor-in-chief of Le Point magazine / social networks and videos.
A visual testimony from Paloma, 15 years old, on holiday with her grandparents Anne and Denis in Fabrezan.
An extraordinary month at the Tourist Office
The Lagrasse Tourist Information Office is closing its doors for three days. In this apparent silence, Claudine et Delphine, travel advisors, C and Valérie, who came to lend us a hand, keep answering calls: informing, reassuring, finding shelter for disoriented visitors. Céline et myself We support them in this mission, which is built on listening and responsiveness. Behind the scenes, we are working to update the information on the site, so that each piece of data reflects the current reality. Marion made realistic, but positive communication on social networks, we are so much in the media that some might think that the Corbières are no more... I can't wait for Sylvie, Nadine et Yona come back to help us. We know that they think very highly of us.
Meanwhile, President Émile Delpy lends his voice to the media - television, radio - interviews follow one after the other, carried by urgency and clarity.
And across the country's borders, colleagues are reaching out to us, showing solidarity in this ordeal. Remi Planton from the Bisca Grands Lacs tourist office shares his experience of a fire a few years earlier in the Landes. Fabien Perrot The director of the Limouxin tourist office is organizing a hike, the funds of which will be donated to the Corbières Minervois intercommunal tourist office. Nadine Darson Beretta, director of the Aude ADT, sent an email to all the tourist office directors, sending his friendly thoughts to the tourist offices affected by the fire (Corbières, Salanque and us) and encouraging us on our solidarity initiatives. Meanwhile, Cedric, and Roman, the technical supervisors are on leave with our colleagues on the integration path and it's reassuring to know they're out of the fire.
August 18: Special return to school
It's impossible to go out into the field: the prefect has closed access to all the area's mountain ranges. The integration project therefore remains in its workshop, making signs. The silence speaks volumes: we know that the reconstruction work will be extensive.
On August 28, a mobilized board of directors
The president convenes the board of directors. A status report is drawn up on the impacted offer. The members express a clear desire: to carry out an inventory as soon as possible, once the maintenance of the trails is completed.Albieres, auriac, Davejean, Bouisse, Felines-Termenes, massac, Montjoi, salza, Terms, Old vine et Villerouge-Termenes
August 31: the fire is declared definitively extinguished
The prefecture has just announced the definitive extinction of the fire. Thanks to our professional status, we are authorized to resume maintaining the hiking trails in the Hautes Corbières, despite the orders prohibiting public access. Our interventions during this period are not the result of chance: they are in accordance with the Natura 2000 charter, which we freely signed. Our schedule adapts to the rhythms of nature—to the nesting seasons, to the fragile balance of the territory—so that every step taken on these paths is in harmony with the life that flows through them.