Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

At a factory manufacturing polystyrene-based insulation, fire broke out around 1:15 am in a storage building that at the time was storing 400 m³ of raw materials (polystyrene pellets) and 1,500 m³ of both semi-finished and finished products (expanded polystyrene plates, some of which were bonded to plaster plates). The production manager and warehouse supervisor, both of whom were housed in a single-family home near the factory, awoke to the sound of the alarm. They discovered the lorry parked in the site’s courtyard on fire and heard an initial explosion. They circumvented the site to cut off the gas line feeding the boiler and noticed other zones engulfed in flames. They notified the fire department as well as factory management. Upon their arrival, first responders fought the blaze using both water and foam; neighbours were instructed by fire-fighters to remain confined indoors. The fire was contained by daybreak. The steel load-bearing frame of the storage building collapsed following a phenomenon known as “backdraft” (i.e. explosion after an accumulation of smoke and hot air within a confined atmosphere). This collapse caused a dispersion of asbestos cement slate from the roof to the ground. A gas bottle exploded on a forklift. The production building was 50% destroyed; the boiler room however did not sustain any damage. The ignition of polyester-based materials released very thick black smoke. The combustion products were primarily styrene, pentane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, all of which irritants and noxious substances for humans. Malicious act was suspected, as 4 distinct fire sources were found. The local gendarmerie was called to investigate. Subsequent to this incident, the factory operator sought to implement a company economic recovery plan involving partial resumption of activities straight away. The total cost of damages was estimated at over €6.5 million. The operator had hoped for a 30% resumption of activity. Before this operational restructuring, it was necessary to discharge all fire-related debris; more specifically, the pieces of asbestos cement had to be treated by an asbestos decontamination specialist. The Classified Facilities Inspection Office proposed to the Prefect that any resumption of production by the operator, even partial, be contingent upon a new Classified Facilities filing.