A Chinook helicopter, designed to carry and drop up to 11,000 liters of water, was deployed on Saturday to help fight a fire in the Aspe valley, located in the "Pas d'Ourtasse" area between the towns of Etsaut and Cette-Eygun in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region. The fire began on Wednesday and is burning in a difficult-to-reach, mountainous area at around 1,500 meters above sea level. The Chinook, which had been stationed since mid-August at the Mont-de-Marsan (Landes) "pelican range"—a term referring to a designated area for firefighting aircraft—was joined by a second aerial unit and ground teams, including ten firefighters stationed on ridges. These efforts have helped to "slow the disaster," according to local authorities. To further control the fire, a tactical maneuver known as a backfire was planned for the night. This involves intentionally starting a controlled fire ahead of the main blaze to remove vegetation that could otherwise fuel the fire. This method is used strategically to prevent the spread of the main fire. Authorities confirmed that this technique would be carried out on the ridge, as part of the firefighting strategy. New aerial resources are set to be deployed on Sunday, and additional ground personnel along with the necessary equipment will be sent to the area. The firefighting teams will remain on site continuously to manage hotspots and ensure the fire is fully extinguished. In a show of local support, the mayors of Etsaut and Cette-Eygun have offered to use private helicopters to transport water as a logistical aid to the firefighters. The prefecture of Pyrénées-Atlantiques has issued a reminder that people inside the fire intervention zone pose a danger and can hinder the work of firefighting aircraft. It is crucial to keep access routes clear and give priority to emergency vehicles. The authorities are urging the public to stay away from the area to ensure the safety of both firefighters and civilians.