On a Sunday at around 3 p.m., smoke generated by fermentation of organic matter was discharged into a 500m³ poultry manure shed at a methanisation plant. The alarm was raised by a technician present on the site following the emergency order issued after a digestate tank overflow, 6 days earlier (ARIA 55959). Firefighters sprayed the manure with 2 hoses to lower the temperature, and the manure was removed from the shed with a bucket. The pipe was plugged to prevent the 9m³ of water used reaching the stormwater basin; 5m³ was recovered in the rainwater system. This liquid waste was channelled to an authorised facility.

The smoke detector in the affected area did not report heating in this area. The inspection authorities for classified facilities observed its unoptimized set-up and a functional test revealed that it was faulty. 2 days after the event, it recommended temporarily suspending activities, including banning further incoming waste deliveries, and introducing permanent human monitoring of waste storage areas. Activities were authorised to restart subject to review of both the design and operation of the detection and firefighting systems, and the rainwater collector and retention systems.

The site’s activities resumed over the following month with preventive requirements (including limiting the quantity of incoming waste).