the essential
A fire broke out at the Super U in Labastide-Saint-Pierre (Tarn-et-Garonne), causing significant damage during the night from Monday to Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Employees and local associations are working to clean the premises and allow a rapid reopening.
Customers with their carts had to face a red and white flag. There was dismay this Tuesday morning at the Super U supermarket in Labastide-Saint-Pierre (Tarn-et-Garonne), victim of a fire in the night around 5 a.m.
Video surveillance cameras reveal a fire starting from a cold room located at the very back of the catchment area, at the level of the fresh produce surface. “The fire broke out in a fridge, and for the moment certain technical devices are damaged, notably the electricity and lighting,” explains Patrice Marchi, store director.
From the early hours of Tuesday morning, the entire staff of the brand was mobilized to tackle the clearing and cleaning of the sales area. “Forty agents are present in order to eliminate the stigma of this incident which inevitably plunges us into embarrassment,” analyze the officials in the entrance hall, where the smell of burning is insistent.
Solidarity and responsiveness
Because if the soot reveals the effective work of the 18 firefighters deployed to control the fire, another battle is now beginning.
“The damage is considerable, because the products on the shelves are damaged, we have covered certain areas and we are carrying out methodical cleaning,” underlines Patrice Marchi, almost incredulous between two calls to the insurance companies.
And added: “Our goal is to open the doors as quickly as possible for our customers and employees.” Quickly during the day, bastide associations came forward to help, particularly with the support of the twinning committee.
