Fire broke out around 3 am inside a facility primarily involved in trading discontinued lines of water-based paints and resins, as well as manufacturing paint mixes and a corrosion inhibitor. The plant was using various chemical products: 200 litres of phosphoric and hydrochloric acids, acetone and trichloroethylene, plus 50 to 60 tonnes of titanium dioxide. First responders arriving on the scene had to cope with an explosion of barrels due to the intense heat. The presence of plastic packaging materials helped spread the fire and led to the formation of a black smoke cloud. The 80 fire-fighters brought the incident under control in 4 hours by tapping into a municipal standpipe for water supply and using a foam nozzle. Two-thirds of the 2,400sq.m building were destroyed. The emergency response team maintained monitoring efforts until 5 pm the next day. The operator planned on laying off 3 employees. Police conducted an investigation to determine the origin of the outbreak; some evidence suggested arson. An accident report is required by the operator. Measures were also imposed to ensure the safety of damaged installations as well as to assess and mitigate the impacts of fire-related emissions and consequences (extinction water, smoke, etc.). The operator must also comply with a number of provisions contained in the site’s operating permit, especially regarding product storage conditions. Moreover, facility restart was contingent upon a subsequent administrative authorisation.