Autumn forest fires

Burnt cork trees in Provence, just after a forest fire

Last week, the weather was very bad near everywhere in France excepted around the Mediterranean sea. Here in Provence we had one week of sunny weather but with a very crazy wind.
Yesterday, a big forest fire started with a very strong mistral.
In this part of Provence, forest fires are very common during the hot summer months and also in september but they are very unusual in november.
Perharps i should say until now they where unsual in november.
Summer dryness becomes stronger and stronger every year and windy periods also seem to increase ...

Here, the forest is mainly made by pine trees, chestnut trees, cork trees and the ground is often covered with bush.
With the fire, bush and pine trees burn likes matches, cork trees leaves also burn but the tree can resit because of its bark. Chestnut industry is still a little alive here and so the ground around the trees is often very clean and chestnut trees are often saved.

About the photos :
In 2003, we had a huge forest fire during days and days. I made many pictures of the burnt forest just after the fire and also one year later for an organisation working for environment protection. The two photos shown where taken in 2003 and 2004, others are visible here and here.

Burnt cork trees in Provence, one year after the forest fire