Air Quality Is at Alert Level in Southwestern France Provinces Due to Fires

It was reported that the air quality in 4 provinces was at alarm level due to the fires in the southwest of France. In the news of the local press based on the statement of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS), it was stated that the air quality in the provinces of Gironde, Landes, Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne in the region has decreased significantly. ARS Deputy General Manager Cecile Tagliana emphasized that there was a serious increase in fine particles in the air in these provinces and warned citizens about the health risks this situation may pose.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine air quality monitoring agency Atmo reported that the ongoing fires and meteorological conditions in different parts of the region facilitate the transport of these particles and that the air quality is at alarm level. While authorities recommend wearing masks against the smoke that affects the region, the government announced that 2.5 million masks will be distributed in the southwest of the country, with priority given to those in need for health reasons. On the other hand, citizens were asked not to go out unless necessary and to keep the windows closed in settlements that were under heavy smoke and could not be evacuated due to the fires spreading over large areas. In France, which is experiencing one of the largest fire seasons in its history, more than 98 thousand hectares of land have burned since the beginning of the year, while the fires that have been going on for days in the Gironde, Landes and Var provinces have not yet been brought under control.