Thermal imaging identifies fire traveling up an enclosed shute during a factory fire in France Tuesday. - Photo Courtesy of SDIS 76

Thermal imaging identifies fire traveling up an enclosed shute during a factory fire in France Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy of SDIS 76

French firefighters used thermal imaging to locate and extinguish a conveyor belt fire Tuesday morning following an explosion at a plant manufacturing wood panels.

At about 12:40 a.m., the explosion rocked the Linex company in Allouville-Bellefosse, local media report. Following the explosion, fire broke out in a conveyor leading to silos containing wood particles.

The Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of Seine-Maritime (SDIS 76) dispatched 68 firefighters. Upon arrival, the firefighters deployed using three hose lines equipped with piercing nozzles.

SDIS 76 posted photographs to its Twitter account showing thermal imaging of the fire being carried by the conveyor through a covered duct.

Fourteen workers on site at the time of the blast escaped without injuries.

An incident involving a suction pipe for wood particles is being investigated as the potential cause of the explosion.

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