essential A fire involving chemicals hit the Latécoère site of Gimont this Monday evening. The 38 employees were evacuated and the risk of spreads controlled by the firefighters.
The plume of smoke was visible from the RN 124, near the town of Gimont in the Gers. It came from the Latécoère company. A bucket fire containing paintings and chemicals broke out on Monday, April 28 shortly before 7 p.m. on the site.
The fire, located outside the buildings, did not reach the main hangar but a “possible spread to the insulation between the cladding” was always likely in the evening.
An important device was quickly put in place. It brought together more than forty firefighters from Mauvezin, Gimont, Fleurance, Auch, Saramon, L’Isle-Jourdain and Castéra-Verduzan. The intervention unit at technological risk of Fleurance has also been mobilized in order to take samples from the air.
-Gers firefighters quickly intervened to avoid worsening the situation. “All the staff of the factory, or 38 people, were evacuated safely,” said the emergency services (SDIS 32).
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A ventilation operation is underway inside the hangar to evacuate the residual smoke. For the time being, the origin of the fire remains unknown. The president of the department, Philippe Dupouy was present on site. “The most important thing is that no victim is to be deplored,” he said.
The gendarmes were on site, an investigation should be opened to determine the causes of fire. For its part, the management of the company did not wish to express themselves on the incident and on the procedures for taking over the activity.
