Overview

• An early-morning blaze on August 10 tore through the Hydrapro chlorinated-products plant in Lédenon, producing visible smoke and chlorine odors carried northward into nearby communes.
• The Gard prefecture announced the fire was “fixed” by mid-afternoon and confirmed that firefighting crews had transitioned to full extinguishing operations with no injuries reported.
• Pompiers du Gard and a Bouches-du-Rhône chemical-risk unit were deployed to the site as the plant’s Plan Particulier d’Intervention and a departmental operations center were activated.
• Authorities ordered residents living within an 825-meter perimeter to stay indoors and seal windows and doors as air-quality assessments continue.
• Hydrapro’s high-threshold Seveso classification and two previous fires in July 2023 underscore ongoing safety vulnerabilities and environmental concerns at the facility.