WWII shells surface in wildfire-ravaged French village

LE PORGE, France — A huge forest fire near Bordeaux in southwestern France has revealed World War II shells in the village of Le Porge, where all residents returned to their homes on Monday after days of demining operations.

Around 400 shells and pieces of ammunition have been recovered in the area where over 180 homes were ravaged by flames, according to local authorities.

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During the fire, blasts were heard, initially mistaken for exploding gas cylinders, but they may have been these shells, according to fire commander Thomas Mimiague.

READ: On the front line of Europe’s battle against wildfires

The munitions, both German and French, consist mainly of mortar shells, along with some high-explosive anti-tank shells.

“We don’t really know why they’re there; we think they were just abandoned,” Mimiague said.

Numerous fires have broken out in France since the start of the summer, particularly in the Bordeaux region, where the most serious blaze since 1949 has now been brought under control after burning more than 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) in about 10 days, without reaching the major wine estates of the region. /dl