Raging wildfire threatens secretive site tied to France’s nuclear weapons

A major wildfire in south-west France has moved close to one of the country’s most sensitive defence production sites.

At least seven of the 35 Seveso-classified facilities in the Gironde department - a French designation for industrial sites handling hazardous substances - were either located within 20 kilometres of the wildfire or situated in towns that had been evacuated as a precaution, according to French newspaper Le Monde.

Among them is a 435-hectare pyrotechnics facility in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles operated by space company ArianeGroup and missile-engine manufacturer Roxel, a subsidiary of MBDA. The high-risk site produces propellants for Ariane rockets and strategic missiles linked to France’s nuclear deterrent.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said authorities had deployed "protective measures around Seveso-classified industrial sites" because of the materials stored there, writes Le Monde.

ArianeGroup’s site in Sainte-Hélène is located inside an evacuation zone and stores and processes ammonium perchlorate, a powerful explosive agent, Le Monde reported.

The space group is a key player for the Nordic space sector, as its Ariane 6 programme helps secure independent European access to orbit for ESA members Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Météo-France has issued an orange alert for Gironde and Landes from noon due to an intense spike in temperatures.

Météo-France, France’s national weather service, has issued an orange heat alert, the second-highest warning level, for Gironde from noon today, urging people to be extremely vigilant.