At around 2:30 p.m., a fire broke out on a scrap crusher being used at a metal and electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) collection facility. The fire started on the trommel screen of the crusher’s waste-collection belt. It then spread via the covered rubber conveyor belt and on to the associated sorting unit. A technician alerted the other employees, shut down the crusher, and turned on its sprinkler system. Employees fought the fire with nozzles and fire hoses from around the site. Due to the heavy smoke, the firefighters were called in. By the time firefighters from local stations as well as Flemish firefighters from the nearby town arrived, the fire was under control. They extinguished the last flames and left the site at around 5:00 p.m. The smoke from the fire drifted towards the industrial area but did not reach the residential areas. The firewater was contained and will be recycled for use in the process.

The damaged facilities were isolated for repairs. The crusher was shut down in anticipation of the scheduled annual maintenance that was to start a few days later. The facilities were returned to service just over a month after the accident.

According to the operator, the fire was started by non-metallic materials (foam, paper, fabrics) that overheated and ignited the rubber curtains used as dividers on the crusher. The operator decided to replace the curtains with metal plates and plans to strengthen the crusher’s sprinkler system.

An explosion had occurred on the crusher just a few months earlier (ARIA 49051).