A FRENCH Foreign Legion drill instructor was suspended yesterday amid political fury over an “imbecilic” shooting practice that started one of France’s biggest wildfires in recent years.
The fire broke out during a shooting exercise by the First Foreign Legion Regiment at a base outside Marseille on Wednesday after soldiers fired non-regulation tracer bullets that set fire to scrubland in summer temperatures. The fire tore through more than 1,000 hectares of scrubland, swept along by 65kph winds, destroying several hill cabins and damaging nearby houses. It reached the edge of Marseille’s densely populated residential neighbourhoods as thick smoke clouded the skyline of France’s second city.
Hundreds were evacuated from homes in eastern Marseille overnight, after spraying their doorways with water to try to keep the fire back. Residents of a retirement home were evacuated in their pyjamas and wheelchairs.
Seven firefighters and police officers were injured and the fire was brought under control yesterday.
It was the second time a military exercise had started a wildfire in the area.
Yesterday the prime minister, Francois Fillon, visited the military camp at Carpiagne, between Marseille and Cassis. Mr Fillon said the tracer bullets, which contain an incendiary substance to make them visible, were banned on bases in the south of France all year round, not just during periods of heightened fire danger.
A legionnaire was suspended and a military inquiry and judicial investigation were launched.
“We’re waiting for the results to make decisions, but there will be sanctions against those who have committed these serious professional mistakes,” Mr Fillon said, adding that rules would be tightened.
Earlier, the local prefect, Michel Sappin, condemned the exercise as “imbecilic”.
Marseille’s centre-right mayor, Jean-Claude Gaudin, accused the military of “incredible stupidity”.
He said: “It’s staggering that they could have been carrying out exercises in 32° heat with violent winds. This is stupidity that could have become criminal stupidity.” The government promised that the army would take part in the clean-up.