Trend summary
- French fire services attended 234,702 fires in 2024, down 15% in a year and about a third below the 343,300 of 2009. The count covers all fires, not just buildings.
- At classified industrial sites (ICPE), the national accident database recorded 400 accidents and 829 incidents in 2024. About half of the accidents involved fire.
- Waste sites are the weak spot. Fires at waste sorting and transit sites rose 55% in 2025 to their highest level on record, and lithium batteries keep turning up as a likely cause.
- Three disasters shaped the rules: the Notre-Dame fire (April 2019), the Lubrizol fire in Rouen (September 2019, about 9,500 tonnes of products burned), and deadly fires in unauthorised venues such as the Cuba Libre bar in Rouen (14 deaths, 2016) and a holiday home in Wintzenheim (11 deaths, 2023).
What the numbers show
France’s fire and rescue services (SDIS) report their work each year through the Interior Ministry’s civil security directorate (DGSCGC). Fires attended fell from 343,300 in 2009 (DGSCGC) to 316,100 in 2019 (DGSCGC), 277,100 in 2023 (DGSCGC) and 234,702 in 2024, a 15% drop in one year (DGSCGC). These totals cover every kind of fire, including homes, vehicles and vegetation. The public summary pages do not split out shops, offices, factories or warehouses, so building-type trends have to come from other sources.
For industry, the Environment Ministry’s accident office BARPI keeps the ARIA database, which holds more than 66,000 events since 1993. In 2024 it recorded 400 accidents and 829 incidents at classified installations (ICPE). Fire played a part in about half of the accidents, and two accidents were fatal, both during hot work such as welding (BARPI, 2024 inventory). In 2019 fire made up 59% of the hazards seen at ICPE sites (BARPI, 2019 inventory). The 2025 inventory reports a rise of nearly 25% in the events collected, and fires at waste sorting and transit sites up 55% on 2024 (BARPI, 2025 inventory). Covered warehouses produce about 25 recorded events a year: BARPI counted 207 in France between 2009 and 2016 (BARPI).
What is driving it
Waste and batteries are driving most of the industrial rise. A 2022 government inspection report counted 578 accidents in the waste sector over nine years, rising from 42 in 2014 to a peak of 99 in 2019. Fires made up 83% of them, about 20% were thought to be deliberate, and several sources blamed lithium batteries for roughly half of waste fires (IGEDD/CGE). Investigations by BEA-RI, France’s industrial accident investigation bureau, show what goes wrong. In the 2023 warehouse fire at Grand-Couronne near Rouen, lithium-metal batteries went into thermal runaway, the sprinklers were designed for plastic goods and had no effect, and about 17,700 m² of storage was destroyed (BEA-RI). At a battery recycling site in Viviez in 2024, about an hour passed between the first smoke and the first fire hoses (BEA-RI).
In public buildings, the key factor is often a place that was never authorised to receive the public. The Cuba Libre basement was used as a nightclub without permission, had flammable foam on the ceiling and a locked emergency exit (Tendance Ouest). Investigators say the Wintzenheim holiday home, a converted barn, received the public without authorisation (Handicap.fr). Research on Notre-Dame shows that big fires can also have long-lasting effects. About 460 tonnes of lead covered the roof and spire. Soil downwind averaged 430 mg/kg of lead, against 240 mg/kg in other directions, an excess of about 1 tonne within 1 km (van Geen et al., GeoHealth, 2020). After Lubrizol, France tightened its rules for warehouses and flammable-liquid storage under orders of 24 September 2020 (Ineris AIDA).
Recent cases
- 4 August 2026: Rouen marked ten years since the Cuba Libre bar fire, which killed 14 young people in August 2016. The two managers were convicted in 2019 and released early in 2021 (Tendance Ouest).
- 30 July 2026: BARPI’s inventory for 2025 found that fires at waste sorting and transit sites rose 55% on 2024 to a record level. Fire was the hazard in over 97% of cases at these sites (BARPI).
- 3 April 2026: The judicial investigation into the August 2023 Wintzenheim holiday-home fire, which killed 11 people, was closed. The manager is charged with manslaughter for receiving the public without authorisation (Handicap.fr).
Press releases and official reports, 2023–2026
Five key releases a year for the last four years, newest first. Most come from national bodies such as ONISR, the Ministry of the Interior, Santé publique France, the BEA and BEAmer investigation bureaus and the Banque de France, from the Senate and National Assembly, and from research journals; a few news reports are included where they are the clearest public record of an event. Headlines are our English translations of the French originals. Releases from 2007–2022 are in the expandable list after 2023.
2026
- 4 Aug 2026Tendance OuestRouen: Cuba Libre, 10 years on. 'Every day without him is an eternity', says a victim's father
- 30 Jul 2026BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2025
- 27 Apr 2026BARPIAccidents linked to hot work
- 3 Apr 2026Handicap.frWintzenheim fire: investigation completed
- 2 Apr 2026SenateFire safety regulations for establishments open to the public (written question no. 08264)
2025
- 3 Dec 2025Ministry of the Interior2024 statistics – DGSCGC
- 8 Aug 2025Handicap.frAlsace fire: the mayor given assisted-witness status
- 28 Jul 2025BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2024
- 16 May 2025BEA-RIInvestigation report on the fire at the site run by SOPAVE in Viviez (12) on 17 February 2024
- 28 Mar 2025BEA-RIInvestigation report on the fire at the Highway France Logistics 8 warehouse in Grand-Couronne (76)
2024
- 16 Dec 2024BARPIAccidents involving photovoltaic panels
- 9 Nov 2024The Local (AFP)No culprit found five years on from Notre Dame fire
- 17 Oct 2024SenateFire safety in establishments open to the public (written question no. 01748)
- 7 Aug 2024BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2023
- 19 Mar 2024BARPIAccidents in the waste sectors
2023
- 29 Dec 2023Ministry of the Interior2022 statistics – DGSCGC
- 23 Nov 2023SenateSafety of establishments open to the public (written question no. 09178)
- 15 Nov 2023BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2022
- 3 Oct 2023Gendarmerie nationaleHaut-Rhin: 75 gendarmes deployed after the Wintzenheim holiday-home fire
- 6 Feb 2023BEA-RITechnical investigation report on the fire in a wood storage silo at the CENERGY site in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône (95) on 28 April 2022
View 20 years of major French building fire press releases (2007–2026)79 more from 2007–2022, up to five a year, newest first
2022
- 21 Nov 2022Ministry of the Interior2021 statistics – DGSCGC
- Sep 2022IGEDD / CGEReducing accidents in the waste management sector
- 13 Jun 2022BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2021
- 13 Jun 2022BARPIAccidents involving fires in surface treatment plants
- 8 Feb 2022BARPIInvolvement of lithium-ion batteries
2021
- 7 Oct 2021SenateSeveso sites (written question no. 24757)
- 2 Sep 2021Ministry of the Interior2020 statistics – DGSCGC
- 14 Jun 2021BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2020
- 31 May 2021BARPIAccidents in the waste sector
- 9 Mar 2021Tendance OuestRouen. Cuba Libre: the managers released from prison, families angry
2020
- 26 Sep 2020Ineris AIDAOrder of 24 September 2020 amending the order of 11 April 2017 on general requirements for covered warehouses (heading 1510)
- 24 Sep 2020Ministry of the Interior2019 statistics – DGSCGC
- 30 Jun 2020BARPIInventory of technological incidents and accidents in 2019
- May 2020CGE / IGA / IGAS / CGEDD / CGAAERLessons learned after the fire at an industrial site in Rouen in September 2019: analysis and proposals on crisis management
- 28 Feb 2020Banque des TerritoiresFire in Rouen: Lubrizol placed under formal investigation for the environmental damage
2019
- 8 Oct 2019SenateReport on the proposed resolution to set up a commission of inquiry into the State's handling of the Lubrizol fire in Rouen
- 26 Sep 2019BARPIFire at two adjoining industrial sites (Rouen)
- 16 Sep 2019Tendance OuestCuba Libre trial: four years in prison sought against the bar's two managers
- 25 Jun 2019National AssemblyFinance Committee opinion on the bill for the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral and a national subscription
- 2 May 2019National AssemblyProposed resolution to create a commission of inquiry into the origin of the fire that ravaged Notre-Dame de Paris on 15 April 2019
2018
- 7 Dec 2018Ministry of the Interior2017 statistics – DGSCGC
- 12 Oct 2018BARPIInventory of technological accidents in 2017
- 14 May 2018BARPIFires in waste composting activities
- 23 Feb 2018BARPIDust explosion and fire in a port silo (Dunkirk)
- 14 Feb 2018Ministry of the Interior2016 fire and rescue statistics
2017
- 17 Oct 2017BARPIAccidents in warehouses storing combustible materials
- 1 Sep 2017BARPIInventory of technological accidents in 2016
- 21 Aug 2017BARPILarge fire in a wood-chip store (Gasville-Oisème)
- 20 Jun 2017Ministry of the Interior2015 fire and rescue statistics
- 18 Apr 2017BARPIWarehouse accidents abroad
2016
- 29 Sep 2016BARPIOverview of accidents at waste management facilities
- 14 Sep 2016Tendance Ouest (AFP)Rouen: 'Au Cuba Libre' fire: the manager and his brother taken into custody
- 1 Sep 2016BARPI2015 inventory of technological accidents
- 3 Apr 2016BARPIFire followed by explosions at a dangerous-goods transport company (Bassens)
- 16 Mar 2016Ministry of the Interior2014 fire and rescue statistics
2015
- 27 Nov 2015BARPIAccidents during the heatwaves of summer 2015
- 2 Oct 2015BARPIAccidents caused by malicious acts at industrial installations
- 28 Jul 2015BARPILessons from extinguishing fires in wood silos
- 14 Jul 2015BARPITwo hydrocarbon tanks set on fire by a malicious act (Berre-l'Étang)
- 20 Jan 2015Ministry of the InteriorFire and rescue service statistics, 2012
2014
- 14 Nov 2014BARPIFire and explosion at a fine chemicals plant (Rives d'Andaine)
- 21 Oct 2014BARPIFire in a mineral wool factory (Saint-Éloy-les-Mines)
- 30 Jul 2014BARPIPneumatic explosion of a pipe at a pyrotechnics plant (Pont-de-Buis-lès-Quimerch)
- 17 Jun 2014BARPIIndustrial accidents during heatwaves
- 21 Feb 2014BARPIFire and explosion in a chemical plant (Chalampé)
2013
- 5 Dec 2013BARPIFire in a warehouse (Crépy-en-Valois)
- 2 Nov 2013BARPIFire at a household waste sorting and incineration centre (Fos-sur-Mer)
- May 2013BARPIARGUS of technological accidents No. 129: 190 accidents recorded in January and February 2013, including fires and explosions
- Mar 2013Ministry of Ecology (BARPI)Inventory of technological accidents 2013: 22,606 accidents and incidents at classified installations in France, 1992–2012
- 21 Jan 2013BARPIProlonged mercaptan release from a chemical plant (Rouen)
2012
- 23 Dec 2012BARPIFire in a pickling unit at a steelworks (Gueugnon)
- 24 Jul 2012Ministry of the InteriorFire and rescue service statistics: 2012 edition
- 11 Apr 2012BARPIExplosions followed by fire in a wood-panel factory (Linxe)
- 28 Feb 2012BARPIExplosions at a packaging plant (Argentan)
2011
- 15 Dec 2011SenateRules applicable to category-5 establishments open to the public and mayors' liability (written question no. 21443)
- 21 Oct 2011BARPIExplosions at a petrochemical site (Loon-Plage)
- 17 Sep 2011BARPITank fire caused by lightning at a refinery (Feyzin)
- 28 Jul 2011SenateSupporting rural municipalities in applying safety standards for buildings open to the public (written question no. 19666)
- 11 Jan 2011BARPIRupture of a distillation unit and flames at a chemical plant (Bourgoin-Jallieu)
2010
- 31 Dec 2010Ministry of the InteriorFire and rescue service statistics, 2010
- 27 Jul 2010BARPIBLEVE of a propane tanker truck and fire (Port-la-Nouvelle)
- 17 Jun 2010SenateRules under article MS 46 on the fire safety service in holiday centres (written question no. 13943)
- 10 Jun 2010SenateChanges to the regulations on safety against fire and panic risks (written question no. 13793)
- 14 Jan 2010BARPIFire of photovoltaic panels on a warehouse roof (Val-de-Reuil)
2009
- 31 Dec 2009Ministry of the InteriorFire and rescue service statistics, 2009
- 23 Nov 2009BARPIExplosions at a polymer plant (Andrézieux-Bouthéon)
- Sep 2009BARPIARGUS of technological accidents No. 107: accidents recorded in the ARIA database in May and June 2009
- 28 Jun 2009BARPIFire at a perfume warehouse (Nogent-sur-Seine)
- 13 Mar 2009BARPIFire at a cold-storage warehouse (Rungis)
2008
- 31 Dec 2008Ministry of the InteriorFire and rescue service statistics, 2008
- 11 Dec 2008SenateSafety in places of worship: fire and panic rules (written question no. 06615)
- 24 Aug 2008BARPIFire at a plastics processing plant (Le Plessis-Trévise)
- 22 Aug 2008BARPIWood storage fire (Saint-Cyprien, Loire)
- 25 Apr 2008BARPIFire in a warehouse (Soorts-Hossegor)
2007
- 31 Dec 2007Ministry of the InteriorFire and rescue service statistics 2007
- 30 Jul 2007BARPIFire at a food factory (Renaison)
- 5 Jul 2007SenateApplication of the Labour Code in an establishment open to the public: fire safety rules (written question no. 00426)
- 5 Jul 2007SenateApplying the 'type J' fire safety standard in sheltered housing for older people (written question no. 00541)
- 7 May 2007BARPIFire and explosions of tanker trucks (Dagneux)
Many years list fewer than five items, and some have none yet. Several official archives (Légifrance, older ministry pages and PDFs) could not be opened when we compiled this list, and we only list items we could open and check. We are still adding to these lists. Where a page shows no date, the date comes from the publisher’s own index; annual reports with no printed date are listed under the year they cover or were released.
Photo list
How this page is built. Figures come from the official statistical releases and research linked above; where agencies publish provisional numbers we say so, because they are revised. National death data come from Inserm’s cause-of-death centre (CépiDc) and take two to three years to finalise, and some figures cover metropolitan France only while others include the overseas departments, so we say which year, area and source each figure covers. Money is given in euros. Headlines and quotes are our translations from French. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons images credited in each caption; file photos are illustrative and are not from the events described unless the caption says so. This page tracks trends and is not personal safety, medical, legal or financial advice.