Forest fires devastate Saône-et-Loire and Charolais, burning over 140 hectares

A large forest fire broke out in the La Grande-Verrière massif in Saône-et-Loire on Wednesday afternoon, engulfing about 40 hectares of dense woodland. More than 110 firefighters from several neighbouring departments, two helicopters and numerous agricultural water tankers were deployed. Strong, unpredictable winds and difficult terrain hampered the effort, and road D3 was closed with detours set up.

In the neighbouring Charolais region, the village of Ozolles suffered a separate blaze that burned roughly 106 hectares on Tuesday. Two houses were completely destroyed, several vehicles were lost and about 30 residents were temporarily evacuated. Local officials provided shelter and meals for firefighters, and the mayor pledged free accommodation for the displaced family. Power outages affected part of the village, with Enedis working to restore electricity.

Both incidents prompted a substantial emergency response, involving local authorities, volunteers and regional rescue services, as the fires continued to be fueled by wind and dry vegetation.