Black smoke, bad smells and children confined for several days in a row inside their school.
Since February 26, the Forest school group, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, and its approximately 200 students have lived to the rhythm of the fumes coming from a chimney located in a parking lot adjoining the schoolyard.
“Sometimes dark and opaque, sometimes lighter”, according to the students’ account, these regular smoke only stopped this Wednesday, leaving “a persistent smell” even in the school buildings.
Intervening on February 29, the firefighters noticed that there was something burned inside the chimney, but “nothing serious” according to comments reported by parents.
Worried about the effect of these volutes on the children's health, the director still decided not to take them out into outdoor spaces for several days in a row.
This is what our children have suffered since February 26 at the forest school in 75018 following a black smoke evacuation installation from a generator, we parents ask how the authorization could have been @mairie18paris @BFMParis pic.twitter.com /OYZfcv5jRO
— Zoubida Zouzou (@zoubida_zou) March 6, 2024
The smoke from the chimney is due to the operation of the emergency generator at the Les Arcades de Montmartre shopping center, managed by BNP Paribas Real Estate Property Management.
“We are in the process of finalizing the work to replace the generator and the company in charge of the work is therefore carrying out multiple start-up tests,” indicates the technical director in charge of the site, in an email dated Tuesday that we were able to to consult.
And to continue: “Reception of the installation will be effective within the next 15 days.
I ask the company to monitor its proper functioning.
» Ultimately, this generator, which must be used in the event of a power outage, will be subject to “a regulatory monthly test”.
“It is unacceptable that the City of Paris, the school, the local residents have not been informed of your work and your tests,” criticized in its response the 18th century mayor's office, which had been alerted by the delegates of parents of students.
The town hall tells us that it has contacted the police headquarters (PP) and the Regional Health Agency “immediately” for a “complete study of the installations and analysis of the releases from the generator”.
Toxicity test in progress
The police headquarters, which has the authority to close the school in the event of a health risk, confirmed to the mayor's office that the installation of the equipment "is in order".
According to our information, agents from the environmental police office and funeral operations of the State services are carrying out tests this Friday morning to assess the toxicity of the smoke.
When contacted, the police headquarters did not respond to us at this stage.
“We would like to know who gave permission to build this chimney next to a school.
We don't want to create psychosis but we haven't had any preliminary information, we don't know anything,” worried several parents we met on Thursday outside the school.