At 3:14 p.m., a fire broke out in the drying chamber of a conveyor washer used at an engine and turbine manufacturing plant to degrease parts using detergent and apply an iron phosphate coating to them. Workers reported that a slow internal combustion process began 30 minutes after the conveyor had been restarted after being shut down that morning for work. The 102 people on the site were evacuated. Workers extinguished the fire using two fire hose reels. Firefighters arrived to provide backup. The roof extractors were turned on to clear smoke out of the building. One person was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. The production lines were shut down for two hours. The heat from the fire caused some translucent roof panels over the conveyor to partially melt. The firewater (1 m³) was collected in the site’s retention system and subsequently pumped out for disposal at an approved facility.

On the day of the fire, a contractor was using a disc cutter at the conveyor’s exit (drying chamber side).  This work was authorised by a hot-work permit. The fire is believed to have been caused by incandescent particles projected inside the drying chamber. The chemicals used in the conveyor (made of no more than 3% phosphoric acid and surfactants) are non-flammable. However, the drying chamber contained combustible materials such as spattered grease and dust, as well as rubber on a flexible connector sleeve between the fan and the supply-air plenum.

The operator noted that a machine made of stainless steel and the use of non-flammable substances are not sufficient to preclude the risk of fire. Particular attention is paid to hot-work performed by contractors and risk-free areas are preferred for hot work. The operator plans to purchase M0 fireproof tarpaulins.