Accident in the Foix tunnel, transport of dangerous materials… The Ariège prefecture conducted a full-scale civil security exercise

9:10 p.m., a truck collides with a light vehicle inside the Foix tunnel. Here is the start of the scenario for the civil security exercise organized this Monday, November 25 in Ariège. As is the case at least four times a year, the prefecture carried out coordinated work with emergency services, law enforcement and all state services.

A few minutes before the start of the exercise, the fire commander, Benoit Delpas, arrived on site: “We are simulating an accident involving a truck transporting dangerous materials in the heart of the tunnel.” Without waiting, the two witness vehicles – a fire truck and a light vehicle from Dirso (South-West roads department) – enter a deserted tunnel closed for the exercise, and position themselves to simulate the accident. Placed so as to image the contact, “with the truck hit on its right side, where there is the harmful liquid, namely in this situation, nitric acid”, says Commander Delpas.

Top start of the exercise. The truck empties its liquid onto the road and catches fire – a white smoke bomb simulates the smoke from the fire – the three victims of the accident get out of the vehicles and run to take refuge in shelter no. 4, provided in the event of a fire. 'accident. The tunnel is then blocked due to the dangerous liquid, and only ventilation can evacuate the smoke. The alert is given. The first fire truck arrives on site, followed by a police car to secure the perimeter and then members of Dirso as reinforcements. In total, around fifty people came to the site to manage this crisis.

“Everything is coordinated here”

The tunnel is therefore closed, the victims isolated in a shelter and the firefighters prevented from entering because of the chemical risk. It is ultimately at the departmental operational center, based at the Ariège prefecture, that everything is played out. Delphine Lemaire, chief of staff of the prefecture, is at the head of this crisis management and has triggered the Orsec plan.

“Everything is coordinated here,” says Delphine Lemaire. “Around the table, the police services, the gendarmerie, the firefighters, the Dirso but also, on an exercise linked to the transport of dangerous materials, services such as the ARS, the Departmental Directorate of Territories. The aim is to circulate all information as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

10:30 p.m. The departmental operational center has been in action for 30 minutes. All those present come together to take stock of the situation in the calm necessary for the smooth running of this crisis management. The question then concerns the risk of air and water pollution. An order is issued to organize a road diversion, thus preventing motorists from approaching the tunnel entrance. “We sent a message to the cell phones of all those concerned asking them to stay confined at home,” says Delphine Lemaire.

the state of emergency lasts approximately two more hours. Thanks to the low wind and the analyzes carried out by the OFB, the risks of pollution in the air or in the water are remote. A decontamination tent was set up in the former Intermarché parking lot. “In total, 15 people had to be brought to safety in Foix, relates the chief of staff. The three victims, after a passage in the decontamination tent, were evacuated to Chiva. One of them was unconscious. The six specialized firefighters were also decontaminated.”

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Around 12:30 a.m., the exercise ended with a collective debriefing. Everyone praised the efficiency of the teams, while identifying areas for improvement to strengthen the management of hazardous materials. “The personnel on the ground were satisfied with the work and the use of specialized equipment. Communication between the field and the operational center must be accelerated. It was also noted that it would be necessary for the emergency services or the forces of order be two at the prefecture.”