Moselle fire destroys seven hectares, blamed on a stork

On Sunday, July 26, a wildfire near Saverne in the Moselle department burned approximately seven hectares of vegetation at Métairies‑Saint‑Quirin. Fourteen firefighters, assisted by local farmers, were able to contain the blaze.

Preliminary investigation suggests the fire was sparked by an electric arc on a power pole, allegedly triggered when a stork struck the line. The bird’s carcass was found at the base of the pole, supporting this hypothesis. Similar incidents have occurred in the Alsace region, notably at Muttersholtz in 2025 and Molsheim in 2021.