A fire broke out at 8:10 am in a spray lacquering booth on an automotive rim painting line at an aluminium foundry. After being notified of an operating anomaly by a visual indicator on the installation’s control panel, a technician went to the site, noticed flames and raised the alarm. The energy supplies were cut off and the tins of paint, solvents and varnishes (FP: 21 and 55°C) stored nearby were removed. The staff used three powder extinguishers and then an inadequate first aid hose system (hose too short), but were unable to control the fire which was finally put out by fire-fighters with a foam nozzle. The fire extinguishing water was collected in a holding tank, and no external discharge was reported. No one was injured but there was significant material damage resulting in operating losses. The internal emergency plan was not activated. An electrical or mechanical equipment failure caused the fire. Following the accident, several measures were considered: automatic detection and shutdown of ‘painting’ lines in the event of an outbreak of fire, automatic extinguishing systems, transmission of the fire alarms to the installation control panel, systems to prevent flames from spreading into the water discharge networks from the paint booth, and checking of the first aid hose systems (in particular the hose lengths).