An explosion occurred in a company that had been illegally storing pyrotechnic materials (fireworks) and whose business activity had been suspended by Prefectural order enacted on 20th December, 2004. The installations consisted of 2 prefabricated buildings, one of which was used for storage and assembly of fireworks components, while the other was exclusively dedicated to storage. On 14th December, 2004, a site inspection had led inspectors to propose suspending the activity and placing the company on notice to comply with administrative regulations. The team of inspectors recorded their findings. Both premises were officially sealed. An explosives removal operation was conducted by Civilian Safety authorities on the morning of 1st February, 2005 for the purpose of removing all pyrotechnic connections between fireworks components, in addition to eliminating from the site all non-transportable fireworks and shipping to an alternative site all packaged items. A rocket lying in one of the prefabricated buildings was activated during this exercise and struck the explosives team’s utility van, where a portion of the removed fireworks had already been placed. An explosion occurred inside the van, with the ensuing fire spreading to one of the prefabricated structures. Fire-fighters, already onsite as part of this explosives removal effort, were able to protect the second building, which sustained no damage. The quantity of material in reaction was estimated at 100 kg of the 200 kg total present on the site. The toll of this accident amounted to: 3 slightly burned anti-explosives agents, and a gendarme officer experiencing a slight malaise due to pressure surge effects: all 4 were hospitalised. The prefabricated structure was destroyed, as was its entire contents. Nonetheless, the onsite crew completed the ongoing task by proceeding with the explosion of all fireworks still left to be destroyed: a 100-m safety perimeter was established, which in turn led to evacuating around 20 single-family homes and a few company offices. By the evening of the 1st, the zone, which had been emptied and cleaned, was considered risk-free.