This Saturday, November 30, at 7 a.m., the Besançon firefighters were informed of the start of a fire in the Gemdoubs paper mill in Novillars.
The firefighters intervene two to three times a year for fires triggered by friction of the metal rollers of the paper production machine. This morning, the fire started again from these mechanical parts.
Lieutenant Franck Jacquet from the main emergency center in Besançon-Est gives us an overview of his intervention: “We arrived quickly on site and noticed hot spots above 130°C and a significant release of smoke in the room where the paper production machine is located. »
“Little Sparks”
The start of the fire was located precisely near the metal rollers. “Using the three fire hoses in the factory, we easily contained the hot spots. The production part concerned was isolated to avoid possible spread. After reconnaissance carried out on the structure and the roof, no hot spots were detected, which put an end to our intervention,” explains Lieutenant Franck Jacquet.
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Safety instructions were given to staff to gradually restart the machine while maintaining a certain level of supervision.
According to an employee, “it sometimes happens that the overheating of the metal rollers causes small sparks which set fire to the paper or surrounding plastic sheaths. But generally, it does not generate big fires. » No injuries were reported and the material damage was not very significant. The accumulation of smoke in the premises forced the firefighters to evacuate eight employees who worked on this station.
The Gemdoubs Sas company is managed by Fady and Nabil Gemayel. The paper mill has been established since 2013 in this factory built in 1883.
