On Sunday around 3.30 pm, a major fire broke out in the industrial zone of Meyrin-Satigny, in Geneva. The smoke was visible from a great distance. The warehouse with a climbing hall collapsed. No one was injured.
The 118 received an initial call from a horseback couple at 3:38 p.m., said Lieutenant Nicolas Millot, spokesman for the Geneva Fire and Rescue Service (SIS). Smoke was visible on the roof of a building on the edge of the Zimeysa (Meyrin-Satigny industrial zone).
Thanks to this warning, the company was able to immediately evacuate a climbing gym where ten people, including a child, were. Then embers fell on the foam carpets of the room, in which the fire quickly spread and completely destroyed this part of the activity building. It also houses a five-storey parking garage and various types of businesses.
Firefighters deployed gun nozzles around the building to contain the fire to its original size and prevent it from spreading to the entire parking lot and the next warehouse in the high winds. The fire was brought under control around 6:30 p.m. Protective measures have been taken to prevent pollution of the Nant d’Avril and Rhone rivers.
heavy smoke
Massive black smoke emissions from the fire were visible for miles around. The SIS received more than 50 calls. About a hundred professional firefighters from the SIS and Geneva Airport, as well as volunteers from the municipalities of Satigny, Vernier and Meyrin intervened with 35 vehicles. About 20 provincial police, municipal officials and border guards have cordoned off the perimeter.
The fire started from the roof of the building that has solar panels on it. Nicolas Millot indicates that the police investigation, however, will have to determine the cause of the disaster. The fire brigade would remain on site to extinguish the residual fires.
A fire broke out in the industrial zone of Satigny, in Geneva. [Raphaël Leroy – RTS]
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