The fire started in the middle of the afternoon on March 14 at the Lomagne Compost recycling center in Castéron, a village of 50 inhabitants near Beaumont-de-Lomagne in the northeast of Gers, 50 kilometers from Montauban. Next to 130 tons of sulfur flower caught fire.
Cloud of smoke
Sulfur flower, a kind of natural yellow powder, is known to be a fertilizer and a natural repellent against harmful animals but it is also used in the manufacture of many industrial products such as rubber, metals or clothing.
This Thursday afternoon, a thick cloud of smoke was visible on site. Around forty firefighters are mobilized, including reinforcements from neighbors in Tarn-et-Garonne. The departmental roads near the site are still closed to traffic and diversions are in place for light vehicles. The D251 is blocked at the intersection with the D170 in Gers and at the intersection with the D111 in Tarn-et-Garonne.
Measures in progress
The Prefecture of Gers a announced this Thursday evening the implementation of analyzes to check for possible pollutants. At the same time, water curtains are projected to capture atmospheric pollutants. A simultaneous extinguishing with water is in progress. Retention of firefighting water is ensured for subsequent reprocessing.
The DREAL, the regional environmental directorateconfirmed, after information from the Emergency Situations Support Unit (CASU), that he could have olfactory effects within a radius of between 500 meters and one kilometer. At 8 p.m. Thursday evening, there was no longer any smoke emission above the site and olfactory nuisances were reduced by almost 90% and are only perceptible on the outskirts of the area, according to the Prefecture.
Families evacuated
The area, which is very sparsely populated, has been secured. In the Gers, three families located outside the axis of smoke propagation were confined at home and are in regular contact with SDIS 32. In Tarn-et-Garonne, three families whose homes are located in the propagation axis, were evacuated.
2024-03-14 18:04:24
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