A major fire started in a phytosanitary product warehouse. The fire destroyed 50 to 60 tons of products including profenofos, cypermethrine and monocortophos (insecticides), triasulfuron and turbutryn (herbicides), and metalaxyl and mancozebe (fungicides). The fumes spread into the surrounding environment for 3½ hours. Evacuation instructions were issued to the unprepared population and neighbouring companies with little success. The companies were not inclined to stop working. Part of the products entered the sewers and was recovered in drums and destroyed before entering the natural environment. Numerous individuals, including 7 firemen, were intoxicated and received hospital care at the company’s expense (4 people were able to leave the hospital the next day).