Forest Fire Uncovers WWII Ammunition in France

On August 4, 2026, a significant forest fire near Bordeaux, southwestern France, uncovered World War II shells in Le Porge village. Residents returned home after extensive demining efforts were completed. Local authorities reported the recovery of about 400 shells and ammunition pieces amid the ruins of more than 180 homes destroyed in the blaze.

During the fire, loud explosions were initially thought to be caused by gas cylinders. Fire commander Thomas Mimiague suggested these explosions could have instead been from the uncovered shells. According to the BBC, more than 100 explosions were heard on the second night, with Mayor Martial Zaninetti describing the sounds as similar to wartime noise.

The mayor stated, “There were ammunition depots buried in land within our municipality, but we didn’t know it, and they exploded.” He noted, “There was even one that went through a house.”

The uncovered munitions, both German and French, included mortar and high-explosive anti-tank shells. Mimiague mentioned they appear to have been abandoned but the reasons remain unclear.

Numerous fires have affected France this summer, notably in the Bordeaux region. The largest fire since 1949 in this area was recently controlled after consuming over 99,000 acres in ten days. Fortunately, it did not affect the region’s major wine estates.

This is not the first time wartime munitions emerged in France. Last year, a World War II bomb halted trains around Paris near Gare du Nord. In 2012, Marseille saw the evacuation of around 1,000 people so officials could safely remove a 1-ton German bomb.