Fire forces evacuation of 3,000 concertgoers at Puy-de-Dôme summit

A concert at the summit of the Puy-de-Dôme volcano in France was interrupted Thursday night when a vegetation fire prompted the precautionary evacuation of around 3,000 spectators. The blaze, which started on the volcano's southern flank, was quickly brought under control by firefighters.

The fire, the origin of which remains unknown, began around 10:30 p.m. near the performance area for the "Nocturnes du Puy-de-Dôme" summer event. Organizers stated the fire was at a distance from the concert site. To ensure the safety of attendees, a preventive evacuation was organized. Spectators were transported down the volcano via the "Panoramique des Dômes" rack railway and by bus.

“

A preventive evacuation of about 3,000 spectators, in order to guarantee their safety, was organized by the rack railway that leads to the summit of the volcano - the Panoramique des Dômes - as well as by buses.

No one was injured or affected by smoke, according to a statement from the Panoramique des Dômes, which is overseen by the Departmental Council. Approximately fifty firefighters worked to contain the fire, successfully bringing it under control around 1 a.m. The "Nocturnes du Puy-de-Dôme" typically features open-air concerts and various activities during the summer months at the volcano's 1,465-meter summit.

“

No one was injured, nor even inconvenienced by the smoke.