Fire in progress in a factory near Lyon, many residents bothered by the smell

Dozens of reports of burning smells, with some residents saying the air is “unbreathable”: a major fire broke out during the night from Saturday to Sunday January 19, 2025 in a waste sorting center of Saint-Fons (Rhône), in the metropolis of Lyon.

An industrial waste fire in Saint-Fons

According to our information, the fire broke out last night within the Suez company. Of the industrial waste caught fire.

The fire caused a large plume of smoke invisible at night but visible at daybreak. The sky over the Lyon metropolitan area is plunged into grayness, a situation “which does not help the pollution episode already in progress and the weather forecasts”, according to the Rhône prefecture.

“Following a fire in a factory, a strong smell spread over part of the city and the metropolitan area. The firefighters are on site and air quality measurements confirm the absence of danger,” indicates the municipality of Saint-Fons.

The fire being brought under control

At 11:15 a.m., the fire was contained, according to the SDMIS (fire brigade of the metropolis of Lyon and Rhône) and the Rhône prefecture. It should be completely under control by mid-afternoon.

“A fire has been underway since 6 a.m. in a waste sorting center in Saint Fons. This is the cause of the strong odors present in the town,” the neighboring town of Oullins-Pierre-Bénite also communicated. “Measures are carried out by firefighters in the area as well as in the municipalities of Saint-Genis-Laval and Irigny to ensure that there is nothing harmful,” indicates the town hall.

“A chemical smell that catches your throat”

Numerous testimonies from residents aboutburning smells were shared on social networks this Sunday.

“What is this smell (chemical? Burning? Both?) that takes Jean Macé Llyon’s throat? Unbreathable, irritating, I have been coughing for 10 minutes,” we can read on X.

Resident alerts are reported in several districts of Lyon (7th, 2nd Presqu’île, 5th, 3rd, 8th, etc.) as well as in several municipalities in the south and east of Lyon (Oullins-Pierre-Bénite, La Mulatière, Saint-Priest, Irigny, Vénissieux, Villeurbanne…

“No danger”

The first surveys carried out on site did not show no particular toxicityaccording to the Rhône prefecture, questioned by news Lyon.

“The fire is causing a strong unpleasant odor which is spreading over a large part of the town this morning. An air quality measurement confirmed the absence of danger,” says the mayor of Saint-Fons, Christian Duchêne.

The fire did not cause any injuries.

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