A fire was started by a spark while an external company was installing a valve vent in a silo containing 60 t of dehydrated alfalfa (granulate form). A crew of firemen, equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus entered the unit to determine what measures had to be taken to reduce the risk of a possible explosion. A nearby rapeseed container was emptied and the alfalfa was sprayed down then removed.

The fire permit written for the subcontracting company was particularly brief and did not require that a fire extinguisher be kept close at hand.