Fires | M6 | Zone Interdite

On July 28, 2003, fire set the whole region from Sainte-Maxime to Fréjus aflame. Hundreds of fire-fighters from all over France were mobilized to fight the fire. Our cameras followed Shirley and Robert Rouard who fought against the fire themselves, protecting the exterior of their house which was encircled by the flames. Same fight for the Dumez family who refused to evacuate their house and worked to make it draught-proof and get the children to shelter. After 45 minutes of fear, their house finally was saved. Robert Chaix, owner of the Colombier campground in Fréjus saw a whole lifetime of work reduced to ashes: in less than 25 minutes, his whole campground burned to the ground. Realizing that the fire-fighters could do nothing, he order the evacuation of all the campers. Thanks to him, 1500 lives were saved. However, nothing was left for him after the fire but to sweep up the ashes and rebuild.