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LATEST: Firefighters contain major fire at Paris recycling plant

AFP
AFP - news@thelocal.fr
Published: 7 Apr, 2025 CET. Updated: Tue 8 Apr 2025 08:35 CET
LATEST: Firefighters contain major fire at Paris recycling plant
Smoke billows behind the Sacre Coeur Basilica as a "major fire" broke out in the nearby 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris, firefighters announced, without specifying the affected buildings, on April 7, 2025. (Photo by Idhir BAHA / AFP)
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The major fire that broke out in northern Paris on Monday evening had been contained by Tuesday morning, authorities said. However, dozens of firefighters have remained on site and the public were asked to stay away from the area.

As of Tuesday morning, the fire at one of the city's biggest recycling plants had been contained. There were no injuries or deaths, and all staff had been evacuated.

The fire brigade had told AFP around 8.20am that the fire was "not yet extinguished, but its intensity had been relegated to a known area, and was significantly reduced."

Around 80 firefighters remained still on site to secure the walls of neighbouring buildings, and the fire brigade warned that the fire would not be fully extinguished 'by mid-morning or late morning'.

The area remains inaccessible to the public. 

On Monday night, flames lit up the night sky and authorities closed part of the main ring road around Paris to allow access to the burning building for fire-fighting vehicles.

Smoke billows behind the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris.

Smoke billows behind the Sacre Coeur Basilica as a "major fire" broke out in the nearby 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris, firefighters announced, without specifying the affected buildings, on April 7, 2025. (Photo by Idhir BAHA / AFP)

"The building is completely gutted and destroyed," Geoffroy Boulard, the mayor of the affected 17th arrondissement, told the French press on Monday night.

Smoke billows across the Paris skyline.

Smoke billows across the Paris skyline as a "major fire" burns at a recycling plant in the 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris, on April 7, 2025. (Photo by Michel RUBINEL / AFP)

"Firefighters arrived very quickly, but the fire happened underground and then spread through the building," Boulard added.

Smoke billows across the Paris skyline.

Smoke billows across the Paris skyline as a "major fire" burns at a recycling plant close to the Tribunal de Paris courthouse (R) in the 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris, on April 7, 2025. (Photo by Michel RUBINEL / AFP)

The fire, in the Syctom recycling plant, was next to Paris's main court complex.

Regarding the smoke, the Paris local authorities have asked residents in the area to remain vigilant and to close their windows. Anyone experiencing respiratory difficulties should call 18.

So far, there has been no indication of toxicity in the smoke, the Paris police préfecture said early Tuesday morning.

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The recycling plant, that started operations in 2019, was designed to handle household waste for nearly a million Paris residents, according to city authorities.

 

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