A significant forest fire near Bordeaux, located in southwestern France, has uncovered World War II munitions in Le Porge village. Residents returned to their homes on Monday after undergoing extensive demining operations.

Authorities revealed that around 400 shells and ammunition were recovered in the area where more than 180 homes were obliterated by the fire. During the blaze, explosions were heard, initially thought to be gas cylinders. Fire commander Thomas Mimiague suggested they were likely the uncovered munitions.

On the second night of the fire, more than 100 explosions echoed, according to BBC News. Mayor Martial Zaninetti described the sounds as reminiscent of war, telling France Info that previously unknown ammunition depots within the municipality’s land had exploded. Zaninetti detailed that some munitions even impacted houses nearby.

The discovered munitions, a mix of German and French ordnance, primarily comprised mortar shells and several high-explosive anti-tank shells. Mimiague noted that their presence was likely due to abandonment during the war.

The fire was one of many to occur in France since the beginning of the summer. The Bordeaux region particularly suffered as the most severe blaze since 1949 has been controlled. The fire consumed over 99,000 acres in a span of about 10 days, narrowly avoiding the vineyard estates crucial to the area’s economy.

Incidents of discovering war-era munitions are not unprecedented in France. Last year, travel near Paris was disrupted when an unexploded World War II bomb was found near the busy Gare du Nord train station. In 2012, approximately 1,000 people were evacuated in Marseille to safely remove a one-ton German bomb from the era.