A fire broke out at around 10:30 pm on the stirring mechanism located under a steamer in a wood panel factory. The steamer, made from 10 mm thick stainless steel sheets, operates at temperatures of up to 170 °C and at a steam pressure of 8.4 bar. It is continuously supplied with wood chips which after 3 minutes of retention time are removed by an extraction auger. The level of material in the steamer is measured by a sealed source of caesium 137 with an activity of 370 MBq. The installation was shut down 5 minutes after the fire was detected. The operator set up a fire line and blocked the sealed source damaged by the flames. The emergency response teams contained the fire within 10 minutes using the first aid hose system. Given the risk of radioactive emissions, the public prosecutor’s office of Tulle requested seizure of the sealed source at around 3:10 am. The absence of this sealed source, located at the beginning of the industrial process, resulted in the complete shutdown of the factory. The inspection authorities for classified facilities and the Labour Inspectorate drew up a report establishing the facts at around 10 am. At the operator’s request, a consultancy firm took radiation and contamination measurements which proved to be negative. After authorisation by the Inspectorate, the factory was able to resume activity in ‘downgraded’ mode (without the sealed source), with the level in the steamer being regulated by the control station. The seizure of the source was lifted at around 2 pm. However, although the fire had only affected the gearing grease and sawdust, the source whose receiver positioned on the other side of the steamer had been destroyed, could no longer be used. There was no environmental impact. The operating losses were estimated at €85,000. An expert appraisal stated that a rear bearing on the grinder’s extraction auger had caused the outbreak of fire.