Mayor blames population for forest fires

Samuel Moli, mayor of the city of Saint-Andre, population 4,000 in southern France, announced that he is preparing to file a lawsuit, holding the city’s inhabitants responsible for the fire that started on August 14.

Speaking to local radio, Moli said that a month before the fire that destroyed 500 hectares, he warned the population to clear the bushes around their houses.

Stating that the city people are responsible for clearing the bushes around their houses, Moli claimed that the city people are responsible for the fire because they do not fulfill these responsibilities.

“I will file a criminal complaint against the residents of Saint-Andre for endangering the lives of others who do not comply with this obligation,” Moli said. he said.

WARNINGS ARE IGNORED

Moli said he sent a warning to city residents to clear the bushes in their areas of responsibility in February, adding that if the bushes were cleared, there would be no risk of the fire spreading.

Noting that they are in an extremely dry period and that they have been informed about the risk of fire, Moli emphasized that he warned again in April, but only some people took these warnings into account.

According to the country’s regulations, a person who fails to clear the bushes and causes a fire that damages the property of others can be punished with imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of 15,000 euros.

500 hectares of forest area were damaged by the fire in the town of Saint-Andre in the Middle Pyrenees in southern France.

The fire, which damaged four campsites and caused the evacuation of 3,000 people for security reasons, was brought under control after intensive interventions. (AA)