Violent fires in progress in Occitanie: traffic on the A9 and A61 disrupted

Two fires are raging in Occitanie, causing major delays on the A61 and a traffic jam on the A9. More than 14 planes and helicopters are deployed to the two sites, Paul Laurain, technical advisor for forest fires at the French National Federation of Firefighters, told BFMTV.

• The A9 motorway closed between Orange and Narbonne

Due to an ongoing vegetation fire in the commune of Fabregues (Hérault), the A9 motorway is closed in both directions between Orange and Narbonne.

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200 firefighters are mobilized with 60 vehicles and 3 Canadairs. As of 5:30 p.m., 100 hectares had been burned, according to the Hérault firefighters, with no homes affected. However, they indicate on their X account, "the firefighting is difficult," particularly because of the "swirling wind."

• Car on fire in Aude: traffic severely disrupted on the A61

A new fire broke out Saturday in the Aude department, caused by a car fire on the motorway, before spreading across 400 hectares of vegetation, the prefecture announced. Traffic is severely disrupted on the A61 motorway in both directions.

The fire broke out in Douzens. A car caught fire on the emergency lane of the A61 motorway in the Toulouse-Narbonne direction, according to a press release from the prefecture. The fire had spread across 400 hectares by the end of Saturday and is not yet contained.

The Aude prefect called for "the utmost vigilance and not to hinder rescue operations" in this difficult-to-access area, made up of scrubland and pine forests. "At this stage, the fire is mainly affecting the plains," added the Aude prefecture, according to which four people were evacuated and taken into care in Moux and another in Fontcouverte.

More than 300 firefighters have been mobilized, and another 180 are on the scene to battle the flames fanned by gusts of wind. They are assisted by seven Canadairs and a water-bombing helicopter.