Fire broke out around 12:30 am in a wheel manufacturing plant. Wheels are made of plastic (polyethylene or polypropylene) rims and of rubber tyres. The watchman from the security firm commissioned by the plant operator discovered the accident and alerted first responders. The fire ignited on a 25-tonne stockpile of discarded output (non-compliant wheels) awaiting shipment to a recycling facility. This storage area included 50 coated pallets. Heavy resources were deployed to contain the outbreak, as flames soared several metres high and smoke wafted towards 2 neighbouring towns. The fire, brought under control around 1:45 am, was fully extinguished by 2:15 am. The causes of this blaze remained unknown. Two hypotheses were put forward: malicious act or ignition due to the intensely hot weather. The company was closed for its annual maintenance period. Besides the 25 tonnes of recyclables, the fire damaged: 50 tonnes of raw materials (reground rubber); 200 m² of an asphalted zone; and one of the site’s lighting towers, causing 2 of the 3 cables on the electrical line passing over the plant to fall, cutting electricity to 2 towns for an hour. Equipment damage was appraised at €49,000. Compartmentalisation and separation walls prevented the fire from spreading throughout the storage zone, which contained 75 tonnes of rejects and 640 tonnes of raw materials. The extinction water was estimated at 500 m³, and another 2,500 litres of emulsifiers were used. Due to the absence of confinement, this water reached the industrial zone’s storm drain network and then the SCARPE River. No consequences to human health, fish populations or local flora were observed. An inspection had been held on 24th June, subsequent to which a Prefectural injunction had called for: the removal of accumulated stored wastes within 1 month, and the design and construction of a rainwater and fire water confinement basin within a 3-month period. Fortunately, at the moment of the outbreak, the operator had removed nearly all of the wastes (220 tonnes of tyres and 150 tonnes of ordinary industrial waste), in a move that prevented a major deflagration with serious consequences. Inspection Authorities nonetheless recorded the lack of fire water confinement.