A warehouse housing lithium batteries caught fire in Aveyron this weekend. The result was an impressive fire, a population briefly confined, and many batteries destroyed.
Almost a year ago, the Bolloré Logistics site in Grand-Couronne (Seine-Maritime) suffered a fire, which led to the destruction of some 12,000 lithium batteries. Residents were then worried about the possible repercussions on the environment of the disaster. A question that will once again be asked this time by the citizens of the town of Viviez, in Aveyron.
900 tons of batteries went up in smoke
Saturday February 17, a fire affected the SNAM industrial site during the afternoon, located in the Decazeville basin, in Viviez (Aveyron). A site specializing in the recycling of hybrid and electric batteries.
And the damage is significant, since nearly 3000 m2 of warehouse was ravaged by the flames, leading to the destruction of 900 tonnes of lithium batteries.
Due to the importance of the disaster, and to avoid any health risk, a containment measure was taken during the same day. It affected people living within a radius of 500 meters around the site, or around forty homes. The measure was lifted in the evening.
A long fire to control
The mobilization of firefighters was significant to put out this fire, with 70 of them present on the site until the end of Saturday evening, and around thirty the next day. Because if it was able to be brought under control quickly, it was, according to the firefighters, a fire at “ slow burning “, which required keeping a number of men on the ground throughout this time.
Safety measures linked to potential environmental dangers have also been taken, including the arrival of emergency services specializing in chemical risks, and the Marseille firefighters taking measurements on the fumes released. The origin of the fire is currently unknown.
Source : France Blue
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