REPORT: Sun rises on charred “Jungle” as Calais migrants keep leaving

The camp's main commercial street was partly destroyed in the fire, with charred remains of plumbing and electricity generators visible in the shells of buildings.

Regional prefect Fabienne Buccio told Reuters that starting fires was a tradition and that it was difficult to prevent them.

“We have spread the word but they (the community leaders) have told us that it's a tradition which is very established, when you go, you burn. We have experience of these habits which has meant we could organize ourselves in advance, we had prepositioned the fire services and paramedics, the firemen were there, they're actually always here 24 hours a day, so there's no big risk of the fire spreading,” she said.

“Unfortunately I think there will be others,” she added.

Migrants fleeing poverty and war outside Europe have over the past few years congregated at Calais, the main port entry to Britain from France, in the hope of finding new lives across the short stretch of sea.

Over 4,000 have been registered by the French authorities since Monday, with the majority bussed to reception centers across France.

But minors are dealt with separately, interviewed by French and British interior ministry officials before being taken into a welcome center in the heart of the “Jungle.”

Afghan Muhammad Ayub was one of those waiting patiently in the queue on Wednesday, wincing from pain from an old fracture in his leg.

He said he had not given up his dream of going to Britain and did not want to be housed in France, refusing to believe the authorities' promises of support after a month spent sleeping in Paris.

“I'm not sure they (the French) are helping. Maybe they are destroying the “Jungle,” after that if they took people from here to a camp or somewhere else, they will not help them, I don't think so,” he said.