Heavy fuel oil leaked from a pipeline connecting a storage capacity to a boiler in a furniture plant. The residents noticed the hydrocarbon pollution in an adjacent stream. The environmental inspection authorities were alerted by the emergency services. The internal and external emergency plans were triggered.

Voluntary first-aid workers installed an oil boom on the water body to contain the la pollution. The site manager and the mayor were onsite the following day. A 3 mm wide hole was observed on the pipeline.

A specialised firm carried out site clean up operations for 14 days. Low winter temperatures made the operations easy. The site clean up and repair operations were estimated at 100,000 euros. The accident underlined the importance of a good coordination among the various authorities (environmental protection, water table protection, fire protection and occupational safety) to avoid such incidents from reoccurring.