Fire at metal plant in Ari猫ge confines residents to their homes
Black smoke was seen coming from the Aubert & Duval factory this morning, prompting the prefecture to advise locals to stay indoors while firefighters dealt with the situation
Significant resources were used to bring the fire under control
Lakiere Christie / Shutterstock
The prefecture of Pamiers, southwest France, urged residents and local schoolchildren to stay inside this morning, after the Aubert & Duval metal plant caught fire near the centre of town, sending black smoke into the air.
Some 100 men and half a dozen fire engines were brought in to help tackle the blaze and the fire was contained after several hours.
Firemen were alerted shortly before 7:00, after alarms were triggered and clouds of smoke were seen coming from the factory.
鈥淥n our way to school, a thick black cloud hung over the factory. It was 7:30 and a gendarme warned us not to stay there", Christine Berge told after dropping her son off.
The metal plant is believed to employ around 100 people and all those who had been on site were evacuated to the town hall. Nobody was injured.
The factory on Boulevard de la Lib茅ration in Pamiers is the largest of those belonging to Aubert & Duval, which supplies parts for the aeronautical and automobile industry.
It is believed that used for stripping metal parts.
The prefecture has set up an information line available to the public, on 05 61 02 11 86.
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