In an oil mill employing the hexane extraction process, an internal fire broke out in a cylindrical cell of a silo containing 1,100 t of sunflower cake in granulate form. The product had been stored in the silo for 2 months. The fire brigade was able to drown the fire, and 800 t of product was extracted from the unit. An explosion occurred 11 hours later, ripping the roof off the cell, cracking the concrete roof of the technical gallery along its entire length and throwing the breeze block walls 40 m below. A conveyor was also partially destroyed. A hole was made in the side wall to extinguish the fire in the remaining product using a high-pressure water hose. No victims were reported, and the firefighting water was able to be contained. The required repairs took several months to complete. Property damage was estimated at 2.7 M French francs and operating losses at 8.5 M French francs.