A fire broke out late in the morning on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the back of the Chez Pepito chip shop in Béthune, with impressive smoke. Traffic was cut off on Rue de Lille, and residents were evacuated because there was a risk of gas cylinders exploding.
Impressive flames, and a plume of black smoke visible for several kilometers around.
Shortly before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, around fifteen firefighters from Béthune, Noeux-les-Mines and Saint-Venant were called out to a fire at the Chez Pépito chip shop in Béthubne (Pas-de-Calais).
According to the SDIS of Pas-de-Calais, contacted by telephone, six gas cylinders ignited during this fire, causing a risk of explosion. A risk that has now been ruled out, according to Olivier Gacquerre, mayor of Béthune, contacted by telephone.
Rue de Lille was blocked to traffic due to the scale of the disaster and the possible explosion of the bottles. Several local residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Pierre-Emmanuel Gibson, first deputy mayor of Béthune, specifies that“There are no casualties or injuries.” According to the elected official, “Two people were on site at the time of the incident: an employee and the owner of the establishment, who were ensuring that the service was set up before the chip shop opened this lunchtime.”.
The chip shop, emblematic of Béthune and known for serving locals late at night, was destroyed.
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