Everyone at home.
Loudspeakers at full blast, a dozen national gendarmerie patrols passed through the streets of St-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, and neighboring towns such as Sonchamp, to ask residents to stay locked up in their homes between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The reason: potentially toxic fumes.
“There were significant and possibly dangerous smoke emissions for humans so we invited the population to stay inside at lunchtime, while asking to protect the windows and doors so that no smoke cannot pass in the houses”, details an official source.
Lithium battery explosion
It all started with a fire in the Recyclage Métal Environnement factory where no less than 300 m3 of metals of all kinds were reduced to ashes.
Nearly 80 firefighters were called to this intervention where lithium batteries generated a few explosions.
Fire professionals have deployed significant resources, including four water nozzles and two on a ladder.
The operation is not quite over since fire professionals are still on site to secure the last homes.
