Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

Fire broke out around midnight in an empty 1500-m² laundry and reached the wood roof. The blaze engulfed a portion of the industrial building assigned to holding dirty items (exclusively flat clothing and linens) and storing chemical products (sodium bisulphite, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, soda lye and washing powder). Fire-fighters were alerted by neighbours. This extensive fire (flames over 10 m high) was brought under control by 5:30 am. The 540,000 litres of extinction water flowed into the sewer network and onto the SICHON River, killing 100 kg of fish. Pollution clean-up steps were undertaken. Property damage was substantial: the entire building frame imploded; the washing tunnel and gas boiler adjacent to the ignited zone were incapacitated. The radiated heat flux extended to several houses located 10 m from the facility facade (scorched flowers, blackened entrance doors and garage doors, cracked window panes). An administrative suspension was proposed, along with the request to submit a detailed report on the circumstances and causes of the outbreak, accompanied by adopted or planned measures to avoid any recurrence and to dispose all wastes generated through appropriate channels.