In a pyrotechnic plant, fire broke out in conjunction with a tremendous release of smoke during the loading of fireworks. The composition involved was produced from barium nitrate, aluminium and sulphur. The automatic extinction system was not activated and the automatic compressed air shutoff was inoperable. A portion of the machinery (composition distributor and compressed air pipe) was destroyed. The fire was contained by the armour plate covering the loading equipment. This incident was caused by either: a poorly adjusted machine, the presence of a foreign object in the composition, or else a static electricity phenomenon. Lessons drawn include a verification of safety report conclusions on product behaviour and workstation design; moreover, the need was revealed to multiply the number of systematic controls on the various fire or safety devices (grounding braids, extinction ramp subassemblies and automatic air shutoff switches).