At around 5:30 p.m., a fire broke out on a 1,000 m² lot in an ELV centre. Staff attempted to extinguish the fire using the site’s 16 extinguishers but were unable to bring it under control. The firemen, called at the beginning of the fire, evacuated the employees. The closing of the shutoff valve to isolate the rainwater network was delayed because the operator did not have the crank required to perform the operation. In addition, the manhole containing the valve was difficult to locate due to invasive brush and soil covering the manhole cover. There was no signage. The valve was finally closed with firefighters’ equipment and the fire was extinguished at around 8 p.m.

Eleven end-of-life vehicles were burned. The extinguishing water was not correctly confined in the retention basin despite the shutoff valve being closed. A by-pass system upstream of the valve caused part of the extinguishing water to be released into the rainwater network. A pipe plug was installed on the by-pass line. The firefighting water contained on site was pumped out by an external company.

The use of an electric shear to cut a part on an ELV created sparks which resulted in the vehicle’s seats catching fire. The operator did not have a procedure in place regarding ELV stripping and decommissioning operations. The foam contained in the seats and the high temperatures that day contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

The operator implemented measures to improve the personnel’s response in the event of a fire: periodic drills, improved understanding of the site and signage.