Britons evacuated after forest fire
Britons evacuated after forest fire
26 July 2010
published by www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
United Kingdom — A number of British holidaymakers have been evacuated from a French campsite as a forest fire raged at the weekend.
The campers were among about 2,000 people who had to leave the site at Carry Le Rouet near Marseille in the south of the country.
They were accommodated in a local gymnasium on Saturday night after the fire broke out that evening on a nearby hill.
Monique Schmittlin, a member of staff at the campsite, said: “About 30 British tourists were among those evacuated as a precaution. There was no panic, the process went smoothly.”
The blaze, believed to be arson, is understood to have started after a car was set on fire.
It has been brought under control but about 100 firefighters remained at the scene on Monday, a local council spokeswoman said.
The flames damaged the trees and hill but no injuries have been reported, she added. Police are investigating the blaze.
A police spokesman said: “The fire, caused by arson, has done a large amount of damage, burning 900 hectares of land.”
