Moselle industrial fire forces 30,000 residents to stay indoors

A fire broke out on Sunday morning at a 500‑800 m² industrial waste warehouse owned by Safe (Suez Alternative Fuels & Energies) in the Gandrange industrial zone of the Moselle department, northeastern France. The site is classified as a low‑threshold Seveso facility. A dense black plume of smoke was visible up to 15 km away, including the city of Metz.

Local authorities ordered the confinement of roughly 30,000 people in five municipalities – Gandrange, Amnéville, Vitry‑sur‑Orne, Clouange and Rombas – advising residents to stay indoors, close doors and windows, and avoid unnecessary travel. About 130‑135 firefighters with 40‑50 vehicles were deployed. Two firefighters were lightly injured, one was taken to hospital. Residents reported headaches, nausea and a strong odor; Amandine Vecchio said, “It smelled terrible, and gave me a headache straight away.” Mayor Quentin Bigot reiterated the precautionary measures on social media.

The fire was declared under control by the afternoon, and the prefecture lifted the confinement after a few hours, allowing residents to leave their homes. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and no fatalities were reported.