Major Fire Engulfs Waste Facility in Northern Paris
A significant blaze at a waste management center in the 17th arrondissement of Paris creates a large plume of smoke but results in no injuries.
A substantial fire broke out on the evening of April 7, 2025, at a waste management facility operated by Syctom, located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, near the Palais de Justice.
The fire, which started around 8:00 PM local time, generated a notable black plume of smoke visible across the Paris skyline.
Eyewitness videos taken by passersby and motorists captured the extent of the flames engulfing the facility.
Authorities confirmed that all employees at the sorting center were evacuated, and no injuries have been reported.
Approximately 200 firefighters and 60 fire engines were deployed to combat the blaze.
The fire service urged the public to avoid the area to facilitate their operations.
A security perimeter was established, leading to the closure of the Porte de Clichy exit on the inner ring road of Paris.
Geoffroy Boulard, the mayor of the arrondissement, stated on a local news channel that traffic was halted in both directions on the ring road to allow for the movement of emergency vehicles.
He reported that the building was completely destroyed, noting that firefighters arrived quickly but that the fire had initially ignited underground and subsequently expanded throughout the structure.
The incident appears to have been contained within the facility, with no reports of the fire spreading to nearby installations.
The local government in Clichy, adjacent to Paris, confirmed that the fire was specifically at the Syctom sorting facility.
While initial assessments indicate no toxic emissions, the mayor acknowledged that it could not be definitively determined whether the smoke posed any health risks.
The sorting facility processes household waste, including a significant amount of collected paper, which may have contributed to the extensive smoke cloud observed during the incident.
The fire, which started around 8:00 PM local time, generated a notable black plume of smoke visible across the Paris skyline.
Eyewitness videos taken by passersby and motorists captured the extent of the flames engulfing the facility.
Authorities confirmed that all employees at the sorting center were evacuated, and no injuries have been reported.
Approximately 200 firefighters and 60 fire engines were deployed to combat the blaze.
The fire service urged the public to avoid the area to facilitate their operations.
A security perimeter was established, leading to the closure of the Porte de Clichy exit on the inner ring road of Paris.
Geoffroy Boulard, the mayor of the arrondissement, stated on a local news channel that traffic was halted in both directions on the ring road to allow for the movement of emergency vehicles.
He reported that the building was completely destroyed, noting that firefighters arrived quickly but that the fire had initially ignited underground and subsequently expanded throughout the structure.
The incident appears to have been contained within the facility, with no reports of the fire spreading to nearby installations.
The local government in Clichy, adjacent to Paris, confirmed that the fire was specifically at the Syctom sorting facility.
While initial assessments indicate no toxic emissions, the mayor acknowledged that it could not be definitively determined whether the smoke posed any health risks.
The sorting facility processes household waste, including a significant amount of collected paper, which may have contributed to the extensive smoke cloud observed during the incident.
