Pallet fire in a combustible materials warehouse
A fire broke out at 10:15 am in a warehouse subject to authorization (item 1510 of the nomenclature of the French classified installations) at an external storage of wooden pallets. Employees are evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters.
The economic consequences of the event are estimated at:
- 1,000 euros for material damage (destruction of 152 pallets);
- 4,500 euros for operating losses (evacuation of staff for 40 minutes).
The volume of the extinguishing water is evaluated at 50 m³. No damage to the environment is noticed by the operator [...]
Mobile acetylene cylinders : Hazard potential not to be underestimated!
Large-scale fire in a wood chip storage facility
At around 3 a.m., a deep-seated fire broke out in an outdoor 50,000 m3 woodchip storage in a waste recycling facility (24 m high, located on the facility's property line). White smoke was emitted above the urban zone and the highway. Access to the site was difficult for the firefighters because of the volume of the stack. The wind propagated the flames. An expert specialised in deep-seated fires was called upon. The CASU (the INERIS Emergency Support Unit) was asked to provide models of smoke dispersion, given the possible human consequences [...]
Video “From incident to media crisis”
Fires in waste composting activities
Cybersecurity and industry
Biogas and corrosion
Leak on grey cast iron pipe
At around 5 p.m., a massive explosion destroyed a 4-storey building consisting of 10 flats, killing 17 people and injuring 15 others. Two semi-detached council housing buildings were damaged (10 flats). One hundred firemen intervened, assisted by search and rescue teams: dog-handlers, heavy machinery such as backhoe loaders, etc. A security perimeter was set up. Rescue operations are made difficult by the possibility of residual gas pockets: fire hoses are installed as long as the risk is present. 274 homes were without gas while the premises [...]
Seal/Gasket accident study
