Young Shepherd's Heroic Actions Prevent Forest Fire in Southern France
A tractor fire was controlled thanks to the quick thinking of a shepherd who risked his safety to avert disaster.
On the morning of June 14, 2025, a young shepherd operating a tractor equipped with a baler made a critical decision to prevent the spread of a fire on the road connecting Bras and Brue-Auriac in southern France.
During his journey, the shepherd, identified as Donatien, noticed flames erupting from his vehicle, which quickly escalated into a fully engulfed tractor.
In this precarious situation, most individuals would instinctively abandon the vehicle.
However, recognizing the imminent danger posed by the fire to the nearby dry grass along the roadside and the surrounding forest, Donatien opted to keep driving the flaming tractor towards the river, a decision aimed at mitigating the risk of a larger wildfire.
After driving several hundred meters, the intense heat from the flames became unbearable, prompting him to exit the tractor for safety.
Emergency services were alerted, and a team of 14 firefighters from Saint-Maximin, supplemented by a local Community Firefighters' Corps (CCFF) unit, responded promptly to extinguish the blaze.
Jean-Michel Balatre, the assistant chief of the firefighters’ unit, commended the shepherd, stating, "It takes a lot of courage to drive a burning tractor to remove it from the risk of a forest fire." Fortunately, Donatien sustained only minor injuries, and his swift actions may have prevented a potentially catastrophic situation.
During his journey, the shepherd, identified as Donatien, noticed flames erupting from his vehicle, which quickly escalated into a fully engulfed tractor.
In this precarious situation, most individuals would instinctively abandon the vehicle.
However, recognizing the imminent danger posed by the fire to the nearby dry grass along the roadside and the surrounding forest, Donatien opted to keep driving the flaming tractor towards the river, a decision aimed at mitigating the risk of a larger wildfire.
After driving several hundred meters, the intense heat from the flames became unbearable, prompting him to exit the tractor for safety.
Emergency services were alerted, and a team of 14 firefighters from Saint-Maximin, supplemented by a local Community Firefighters' Corps (CCFF) unit, responded promptly to extinguish the blaze.
Jean-Michel Balatre, the assistant chief of the firefighters’ unit, commended the shepherd, stating, "It takes a lot of courage to drive a burning tractor to remove it from the risk of a forest fire." Fortunately, Donatien sustained only minor injuries, and his swift actions may have prevented a potentially catastrophic situation.