An early morning fire broke out on Wednesday at a waste sorting and recovery facility in Nice operated by Sud Est Assainissement (part of the Veolia group). The blaze, which affected 500 m² of the site, has since been brought under control.

The fire began at the centre on the Route du Parc d’Activités and quickly spread through a stockpile of bulky non-hazardous waste, including wood, cardboard and plastics. Around 150 m³ of material was affected.

The incident mobilised 15 fire engines and 40 firefighters from the Alpes-Maritimes fire service (SDIS06), who secured the site and ensured that staff were evacuated safely. No injuries were reported. The Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes has thanked the emergency teams for their swift and effective intervention.

Air quality remains stable

The regional air quality observatory Atmosud, approved by the Ministry of the Environment, confirmed that no increase in air pollutants had been detected at its monitoring stations in Nice during or after the incident.

Investigation underway

An investigation has been launched by state services to establish the cause of the fire and to determine what corrective measures will need to be put in place by the operator.

Residents and motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling through the area while clean-up operations continue.

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Photo credit: sdis06