In a pyrotechnic plant, an explosion followed by fire destroyed an 8-tonne capacity depot storing recreational fireworks, smoke grenades, flares and simulation fireworks. According to employees working nearby, a white smoke was released first, with the explosion occurring 20 to 30 seconds later. Coloured stars were then projected. The alarm was triggered and the internal emergency plan activated. A safety perimeter was established. Areas of fire outbreak were ignited by projectiles over a widespread area extending more than 1 km around the premises, reaching zones beyond the site boundary and causing grass fires, which were fanned by the drought exacerbated by heat wave temperatures. The other depots were protected by fire-fighters, and the fire was brought under control within about 90 minutes. An aerial reconnaissance mission flew in a helicopter over the affected zone. Fire-fighting units monitored the situation through the night for any eventual resumption of fire. The intervention of emergency responders was complicated by the risk of potential explosion as well as by a limitation of access to gasoline-powered vehicles (compliance with safety rules). The fire extinction network, which had been appropriately designed, proved to be operable. The accident caused no injuries, but the storage depot was entirely destroyed.

The initial findings of the subsequent investigation revealed a breakdown in the manufacturing process adopted for some of the fireworks: an uncontrolled modification in raw materials (due to pollution) would have altered product behaviour. A chemical incompatibility stemming from these anomalies wound up causing heating and ignition of the materials present onsite.

As a general consideration, pyrotechnic experts advise the following:

• compliance with basic manufacturing rules, in order to avoid pollution, e.g. dedicated equipment to specific product families;
• for manufacturing purposes, only the use of products certified by the inspection department;
• adoption of clear and comprehensible operating protocols;
• systematic labelling of products, especially after any operation involving product splitting.

Moreover, the local Prefect enacted an emergency measure order upon the proposal of the facilities inspection unit, requesting a detailed report on the incident, with submission of an assessment on monitoring and detection instrumentation to be implemented, and requiring additional measures throughout renovation works on the destroyed premises.