Two concrete bunkers at a non-hazardous waste sorting and dispatching facility caught fire at around 12:50 a.m. Both bunkers are located in a 7000 m² metal building. Each has a capacity of 150 m², is bounded by 4-m-high divider walls, and was filled with recyclable waste. The alarm monitoring company alerted the operator. The firefighters fought the flames using the hose stations and hydrant near the site. They ventilated the premises and checked that the heat had not warped or weakened the building’s metal frame. Employees used heavy machinery to move waste out of the building and then water it.

The firewater was contained in the site’s retention pond. The facility resumed normal operations at 7:30 a.m. The portion of the building’s frame opposite the seat of the fire was checked by a competent body.

The facility had closed the previous evening at 5:30 p.m. The fire may have been started by an item of unauthorised or hazardous waste in the recyclable non-hazardous waste. It occurred during a period of hot weather.

Following the accident, the operator:

• moved the site’s emergency box, which contains instructions and useful information (maps, who to contact, etc.), to a location that is easier for firefighters to access and see, particularly at night;
• instructed its employees to progressively sort recyclable waste to prevent bulk waste accumulating on the site;
• asked its employees to be more vigilant about incoming waste;
• is considering appointing an on-call heavy machinery driver to help firefighters move waste in the event of an accident.