Through Manon Loubet
Published on
updated on 16 Jan 23 at 21:13
[Article mis à jour le 16 janvier 2023 à 21h10] At this stage, “no toxicity” was noted following the important fire that broke out at the Bolloré Logistics site in Grand-Couronnenear Rouen, this Monday, January 16, 2023. There are also no victims. The extinguishing operations of the warehouses of lithium batteries and tires are still ongoing. Here’s what we know about the disaster generating awesome pictures.
What we know about the fire at Bolloré Logistics
A fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. in a warehouse containing thousands of automotive lithium batteries of the company located in Grand-Couronne, not far from reels. The fire spread to another cell containing approximately 70,000 tires. The cause of the fire is, for the time being, unknown.
Numerous emergency resources were deployed, including “136 firefighters [vers 20h30] including the chemical risks unit” specifies the prefect of Seine-Maritime Pierre-André Durand.
At this stage, there are no victims, the personnel having been evacuated quickly. According to the prefect, “there is no suspicion of possible victims” or employees who would be missing.
Rescue operations are complicated because batteries require water extinguishing and tires require foam.
The firefighters know the operating modes to activate but it will take a long time to completely extinguish the fire.
The fire generates explosions because of the batteries, and a large plume of smoke.
Are the fumes dangerous?
According to the first analyzes carried out by the firefighters “on the site and nearby”, there would be no toxicity. “We searched nitric oxide, hydrochloric acid and hydrocyanic acid, the rates are zero”, assures the colonel of the firefighters Rémy Weclawiak. “The smoke rose high, which is rather reassuring for the populations”, adds the colonel.
Further analyzes should be carried out to determine the possible toxicity of the plume of smoke which is heading in a southeasterly direction and which is visible for miles around.
Is the site Seveso classified?
The site is not classified Seveso. This is a classified installation subject to “registration”. This is why the device was first overseen by the mayor of Grand-Couronne Julie Lesage, before returning to the prefect “given the extent taken by the disaster”.
There was however according to him, there is no need to activate the devices En-Alert or the sirens“given the nature of the site and the products that burn”.
There was no need to order a containment or evacuation of populations.
According to the prefect, “everything is done” to avoid spreading to neighboring businesses. “There is no risk of a domino effect”reassures Pierre-André Durand who specifies that the nearest residents are 500 meters away.
Vigilance is still made on other cells of the storage site. The prefect indicates that one of them shelters ” aerosols. We do a precise check [des autres produits stockés, NDLR]“.
And after ?
According to the latest information communicated by the town hall, “the intensity of the fire is decreasing” but, as indicated above, the extinguishing operations promise to be long, “several hours” at least according to the prefect.
Although the dangerousness of the sites is not comparable, this major fire evokes in the inhabitants of the Rouen metropolis the sinister memory of the Lubrizol fire three years ago. And the questions of the inhabitants on this new industrial accident are already numerous.
with Joce Hue and Julien Bouteiller
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