privileged criminal track for the impressive fire of the Michelard sawmill in Chabeuil

A violent fire broke out overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in a sawmill in Chabeuil, in Drôme. The disaster, which broke out around 2:30 a.m., mobilized up to 72 firefighters and fifteen vehicles. By 8 a.m. the fire was under control. Several outbreaks of fires were observed.

A major fire broke out on the night of Tuesday October 15 to Wednesday October 16, in Chabeuil, in Drôme. Located on route de Crest, along departmental road 538, the Michelard sawmill was ravaged by flames as evidenced by the spectacular photos taken by firefighters during the night.

72 firefighters and fifteen vehicles were mobilized to put out the flames. The fire soldiers used eight lances, including three cannon lances. Firefighters said no one was on the scene at the time. During the intervention, a firefighter was slightly injured, said the Drôme prefecture in the morning.

Six hours to put out the fire

This Wednesday morning, around 7 a.m., the firefighters indicated that the fire was under control but not yet extinguished. The device was lightened but nearly 60 firefighters were still on site. The firefighters indicated that the fire was under control around 8 a.m. and that the production tool was saved.

It took nearly six hours for the firefighters to put out the fire and avoid any risk of spreading. The intervention was particularly complicated by a southerly wind. The material balance is substantial. The fire ravaged a large part of the building: 2500 m² out of 5000 m². In addition to the damage to the business, much of the stock went up in smoke.

The almost certain criminal trail

This Wednesday morning already, according to the first findings, it is the criminal track which was favored by the gendarmes in charge of the investigation. Several starts of fire, at least three, having been noted.

The company employs 11 people. Half of them should end up on technical unemployment. The prefecture wanted to be reassuring on its side in a press release: “State services are already mobilized to best support the operator in all the steps necessary to safeguard employment as well as to maintain and resume its activity.”

This morning, while the fire was not yet fully under control, firefighters advised everyone to be careful when approaching the site.