SION - Valais fire services and communal crews ran a joint forest-fire exercise in the central valley on Tuesday, practising access roads, water points and helicopter coordination. A dry fortnight had already produced small grass fires that were put out fast. Attendance from mountain communes was higher than a year ago.
Nobody needed to name Blatten in the briefing. It was named anyway, as a reminder that the valley's hazards are not only flame.
August will be the exam
National Day bonfires are a planned risk. An unplanned ridge fire is the other kind. The drill is for the second. The first still needs a wet garden hose and a grown-up.