Villers-Bretonneux reassures its residents about security

On the night of Thursday October 31, a fire broke out on the Ortec site, classified Sevesolocated rue du 8-Mai-1945 in Villers-Bretonneux. This outbreak destroyed around 200 tonnes of industrial waste, raising a wave of concern among residents of the town. In response to these concerns, the city ​​hall provided clarifications to reassure the population.

The firefighters' fight against the flames

As soon as the alert is given, 64 firefighters from various rescue centers – notably Amiens-Poulainville and Péronne – rushed to the scene. Thanks to their rapid and precise intervention, the fire which broke out was able to be brought under control and contained around midnight. The town hall declared on its Facebook page that on the 400 m³ of materials stored outside, only 50 m³ had been consumed by the flames.

“It should be noted that the materials burned consisted of cans that contained neutral acid-based paintswhich makes them non-flammable,” the statement said.

This detail aims to alleviate concerns about the dangerousness of the products involved.

Analyzes and preventive measures

Local authorities have already initiated a legal proceedings to the prefecture to determine the causes of this fire. Analyzes are also carried out to assess the risks of pollution resulting from this event. The firefighters carried out air quality measurements, the results of which, obtained at different distances from Villers-Bretonneux, revealed no toxic contamination, which is a reassuring announcement for residents.

An adequate reaction to a worrying situation

Despite the magnitude of this incident, the town hall clarified that the rescue operations had effectively contained the situation, thus avoiding more serious consequences. The presence of teams on the ground also ensured that residents would not be affected by possible technical unemployment within the company, a subject that often causes concern during such events.