A fire broke out at Smurfit’s paper manufacturing site in Biganos, in France’s Gironde department near the Arcachon Bay area, prompting a major emergency response that included aircraft.
Authorities said the blaze started on the industrial site operated by Smurfit, which specializes in paper production. The exact cause of the fire had not been established at the time of the first available reports.
Helicopters and water bombers deployed over the Biganos site
Given the scale of the fire, officials mobilized significant aerial resources to support crews on the ground, including helicopters and water-bombing aircraft.
The heavy air response reflects how difficult it can be to contain a blaze at an industrial paper site, where stored raw materials—wood and cellulose fibers—can burn intensely.
The Smurfit plant in Biganos is part of the paper-and-cardboard supply chain in southwestern France, a region where forestry and related industries play a central role in the local economy.
Paper and cardboard plants face elevated industrial fire risk
Wood-processing and paper-production facilities are among the industrial sites most exposed to fire risk because of the nature of the materials handled and the large volumes typically stored on site.
A major fire at a production facility like this can lead to extended shutdowns and strain local supplies of packaging and paper.
As of publication, information was not yet available on possible injuries, the extent of damage to the plant, or how long it might take to return the site to service.
