Close your windows!
Firefighters from the Vesdre – Hoëgne & Plateau rescue zone arrived on site around 6 p.m. The rescue zone asked the nearby population to close the doors and windows of their homes because of the potentially toxic fumes. An SMS was also sent via the Be-Alert system to all the residents concerned, mainly in the villages of Petit-Rechain, Chaineux, Battice and Thimister but also in Verviers.
Chez Simonis, on the former Onduline site
The fire ravaged the former industrial site of Onduline in Verviers. The company affected by the fire is Simonis, one of the three world leaders in the recycling of vulcanized and unvulcanized rubber and owned by the Göbbels family.
rubber scraps
On the spot, there is a stock of cut tires, which explains the cloud of smoke visible for kilometers as well as the security measures imposed by the police of the Vesdre area and by the firefighters. Especially since canisters would also have exploded on the site.
The intervention requires significant means at the level of firefighters. As of 9:30 p.m., the fire was still ongoing. Civil protection also went on the spot as well as a police helicopter, to carry out drops of water.
Luckily, there was no one there at the time of the fire.
