The fire broke out on Friday evening, at around 9:30 pm. In the workshops of the Mecapack factory in Pouzauges, Vendée, three employees working in the machining department noticed the first signs of smoke. By the time they alerted the emergency services, the first floor was already engulfed in flames. As the hours went by, the situation worsened: windows exploded, ceilings collapsed and the metal structure buckled under the effect of the heat, reports France Bleu Loire Océan. The fire department's intervention lasted over six hours.
4500 m 2 of Mecapack building destroyed
Mecapack, a manufacturer of packaging machines for the food, public sector, pharmaceutical, medical, industrial and retail sectors, has seen its main production facility suddenly shut down. The 230-employee company, based in Pouzauges, combines design, assembly, machining, testing and technical support activities. Tonight, 4âeuros500Â m 2 of the building are destroyed. The 2âeuros000Â m 2 in the basement, where the three operators were located, have been spared Ouest France .
A tense intervention
71 firefighters from 20 centers were mobilized, according to the Service départemental d'incendie et de secours de Vendée. On site, crews battled for several hours to contain the fire and prevent its spread to lower levels. Interviewed by France Bleu Loire Océan lieutenant Luc Amelot, head of the Pouzauges rescue center, describes a difficult operation: "It's been a race against time and a challenge to try and keep the fire going as much as possible."
Suspended employees, a show of solidarity
The very next day, Mecapack's 230 employees were laid off. A crisis unit was set up. On its home page, Mecapack speaks of a "devastating fire" and a "temporary brake" to its "growth projects in France and abroad" . It claims to mobilize its teams "day and night to ensure business continuity. No resumption date has yet been announced.
In the hours that followed, several business leaders in the sector offered to help. According to France Bleu Loire Océan concrete offers of temporary office or storage space were sent to Mecapack.
At the same time, a judicial inquiry was opened to determine the causes of the incident.
