A forest fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in Morthomiers in the Cher and threatened a Seveso-classified industrial site of KNDS Ammo France. The prefecture evacuated around 100 residents before announcing in the evening that the risk had been ruled out.
The fire broke out around 3:45 p.m. in Morthomiers near Bourges and spread across 60 hectares of woodland before reaching the historic KNDS munitions production site, classified as Seveso high threshold. The prefecture banned access to the plant and evacuated the nearest residents.
At 9 p.m., the prefecture stated that the risk was “ruled out.” The left flank of the fire, which directly threatened the munitions areas, was contained, while the residents’ confinement order was lifted.
In total, 100 hectares of forest and 20 hectares of crops burned. Around 90 firefighters, supported by helicopters, remained on site to control the blaze, which had not yet been fully contained.
