A fierce forest fire broke out on Wednesday 8 July in the early afternoon in woodland north of Morthomiers, in the Cher department. The flames, fanned by the wind, quickly spread, threatening a sensitive industrial site and forcing the authorities to evacuate hundreds of people.
Rapid spread and a series of evacuations
At 7 pm, the fire service estimated that 60 hectares of vegetation had already gone up in smoke. By the end of the day, this figure had doubled to 120 hectares, according to the latest estimates. Rescue teams, mobilised in large numbers, are struggling to contain the spread of the flames, which are heading south towards the KNDS factory in La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin.
This site, classified as a ‘high-threshold’ Seveso site due to the risk of explosion and fire it poses, was evacuated as a precaution. Around a hundred residents of the Morthomiers stadium neighbourhood, particularly those living on Allée des Genévriers and Rue du Bois des Cheminées, were also asked to leave their homes at around 5 pm. “They were gathered at the town hall to stay cool,” explained the deputy mayor. Other residents chose to leave of their own accord.
Access to the homes closest to the KNDS site is now prohibited, and the local council stands ready to accommodate those who have been evacuated to the municipal sports hall for the night, if necessary, depending on Le Berry Républicain.
Massive mobilisation of emergency services
Firefighters from the Cher department, supported by reinforcements from neighbouring departments, have been battling the flames since early this afternoon. Their priority is to protect residential areas and prevent the fire from spreading further towards the industrial site. Aerial resources, including Canadair aircraft, have been called in to drop water on the most inaccessible areas and attempt to contain the blaze before nightfall.
The situation remains under close monitoring, particularly due to the weather conditions. The local authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to follow the evacuation instructions