At around 4 p.m., a machine operator detected white smoke coming from recently stored pallets in a non-hazardous waste sorting/transit/consolidation facility. The machine operator raised the alarm. The fire alarm sounded, the site was evacuated and a safety perimeter was established around the pallet storage area. The firefighters detected several leaking 25-litre drums, although they were unable to identify the products involved. The multi-gas detector used for reconnaissance operations sounded, and the safety perimeter was extended to include the entire building. The risk of chemical pollution was ruled out in light of the quantities spilled on the ground. The waste supplier was identified and contacted. According to the supplier, the waste included both hazardous and non-hazardous waste in liquid and powder form. The fire brigade’s chemical unit worked to qualify these various products. Hermetic pallet boxes were prepared to recover and safely store all the drums in the load. A company specialising in hazardous waste took over the handling of the pallet boxes.

The site should not have accepted to receive hazardous waste. Following the event, the operator reminded all personnel that it was prohibited to receive hazardous waste and, more generally, liquid waste. The inspection procedures and instructions to be applied in the event of non-compliant waste delivery (refusal, warning) were reiterated.