«It is with immense sadness that the SDIS 44 announces the death on duty of the head of the Saint Lyphard center during an intervention for a field fire. Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones», indicated on Twitter the Loire-Atlantique Sdis.

Questioned by AFP, the firefighters did not wish to give more details immediately on the circumstances.

According to local media reports, the man was 50 years old.

Last summer, the Loire-Atlantique firefighters were bereaved by the death of a 60-year-old volunteer firefighter during training with a team of water rescuers from Sdis in Pornic.