Pleuville forest fire destroys up to 15 hectares

A forest fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Pleuville, located in the Charente department near the border with Vienne, France. The blaze, which reportedly originated from agricultural machinery during grinding work, destroyed between 10 and 15 hectares of forest and agricultural land.

Emergency responders, including approximately 60 to 80 firefighters, were deployed to the scene. Due to difficult terrain and wind, aerial support was required to contain the flames. Three aircraft, including Dash and Air Tractor models, performed multiple water drops to prevent further spread.

The operator of the agricultural vehicle managed to escape without injury, though the machinery was destroyed by the fire. Firefighters worked through the evening to secure the perimeter and treat the edges of the burned areas. No casualties were reported.