On the night of September 20 to 21, 2023, a violent fire broke out in the premises of the Socopa Viandes company in Celles-sur-Belle. The fire caused the death of one person. The Niort public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.
It was around midnight, on the night of September 20 to 21, 2023, that the fire broke out. In the premises of Socopa Viandes in Celles-sur-Belle, in Deux-Sèvres, a violent fire spread, leading to the death of an individual. The Niort public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.
Located rue Daniel Archaimbault, in Celles-sur-Belle, the premises of the company Socopa Viandes, a subsidiary of the Bigard group, were engulfed in flames. Several hundred square meters are affected, according to a press release from the firefighters. Immediately, significant emergency resources were dispatched to the site: 74 firefighters and 12 engines from the Deux-Sèvres departmental fire and rescue service.
According to details from firefighters on site, ammonia was found nearby. If the fire is now under control, as specified in a press release from the Deux-Sèvres prefecture, the deceased found himself trapped by the flames. It would be a man who worked for a service provider within the company, as a maintenance agent.
My first thoughts are for this gentleman’s family and colleagues, it’s dramatic.
Sylvie Brunet, mayor of Celles-sur-Belle
At this stage, the circumstances of the fire remain unknown. An investigation was opened under the authority of the Niort public prosecutor’s office, again according to the prefecture.
In her press release, Emmanuelle Dubée, the prefect of Deux-Sèvres, also testifies “all its support and solidarity to the attention of the victim’s family” and ensures that state services remain mobilized “to support the Socopa company in the aftermath of this fire and the continuation of its activity“.
In addition to a support unit opened by the prefecture, it is the Bigard group, which takes charge of “the entire technical part, expertise and even the psychological care of employees“, specifies Sylvie Brunet, the mayor of Celles-sur-Belle. The councilor ensures that she is ready to help the company recover from this tragedy: “For the moment, there is not much else to do, but perhaps tomorrow, or for a resumption of activity, we can help. We are listening to them.“
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