Noticed a few ‘controlled’ fires around the region recently?

Ecobuage fire, Pyrenees Orientales Franc

Ecobuage is a type of controlled  burning process, a way of fertilising the fields by burning the grass on an annual basis during the cooler months. It has many advantages – it is a quicker and easier way to clear away brush-land and other unwanted vegetation and the ashes are beneficial to the soil – but if  not carried out in secure conditions, it can easily spread, causing fire. In some areas.

It can also stimulate the germination of certain desirable forest trees,

Ecobuage fire, Pyrenees Orientales France

Despite lower temperatures, rain, and storms, firemen are still called out several times to deal with winter fires, mainly caused by ‘écobuages’ gone wrong.

Ecobuage fire in the Pyrenees Orientales France

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