Portuguese Factory Fire Forces Neighborhood Evacuation

Under the threat of a boiler explosion authorities ordered the evacuation of the neighborhood surrounding a burning cardboard plant in northwestern Portugal Monday night.

A safety zone was established around the Zarrinha factory in Santa Maria de Lamas for fear that boilers fed with naphtha might explode, Diario da Feira reports. A boiler explosion at the same plant 14 years ago caused extensive damage.

At about 10 p.m. flames broke out in a paper press. Within an hour more than 100 emergency personnel supported by 40 emergency vehicles were fighting the flames.

A military officer conducting the evacuation was heard shouting “Get away, imminent explosion.”

The burning plant is located in Santa Maria de Lamas’ Paços de Brandão parish, home to nearly 5,000 people.