Fire Damage in Rubber Manufacturing Plant: How Production Was Stabilised and Restored Within Weeks
Immediate response prevented long-term production loss
A major fire in a rubber manufacturing plant destroyed the entire warehouse and contaminated production areas with heavy soot. BELFOR Italy intervened within hours and stabilised the situation, enabling the client to secure assets quickly and restart operations within weeks.
Fire spread rapidly and contaminated the entire facility
On 6 May in 2023, a fire broke out suddenly in the warehouse of ILGA Gomma Srl in Vigevano, a company specialised in rubber production. While firefighters responded immediately, the fire destroyed the warehouse completely. Thick black smoke spread throughout the building, contaminating machinery, production lines, and office spaces.
Even on the following day, parts of the rubber material were still burning. BELFOR experts were already on site during this critical phase to assess the damage and define the first emergency measures.
Unstable structure required a coordinated technical solution
The fire left behind a particularly challenging situation. Burning rubber created persistent hotspots that could not be extinguished easily, while the building structure remained unstable.
In close coordination with the fire brigade, BELFOR deployed a remote-controlled robot. This allowed the team to safely move still-burning rubber material, enabling firefighters to extinguish the fire effectively with appropriate equipment. This approach reduced risk for personnel and prevented further structural damage.
Rapid stabilisation of production assets
At the same time, coordination between the client, insurer, and BELFOR was established to manage the emergency efficiently. Soot had already spread across large parts of the facility, posing a serious risk of corrosion and long-term damage to machinery.
On 8 May, BELFOR initiated corrosion protection measures on critical equipment. Severely damaged items were removed immediately to enable access for decontamination and to prevent secondary damage.
This early intervention helped preserve valuable production assets and reduced future replacement costs.
Full decontamination of building and technical systems
The remediation process focused on removing soot contamination from both the building and all technical installations.
The building itself was cleaned using high-pressure water combined with alkaline agents to neutralise fire residues. All contaminated water was collected in dedicated tanks, analysed, and disposed of according to regulatory waste codes.
In parallel, BELFOR carried out mechanical and electronic cleaning of production equipment and building systems. This ensured that sensitive components were restored safely and could be brought back into operation.
Fast-track restoration enabled production recovery
Once decontamination was completed, BELFOR moved immediately to reinstatement. Within just one and a half days, the entire building was repainted. Final deodorisation using ozone treatment eliminated residual smoke odours.
This structured and coordinated approach allowed the client to regain control quickly and prepare for the restart of production.
Clear timeline ensured control throughout the project
The incident occurred on 6 May. BELFOR conducted the first site inspection on 7 May and began remediation work on 8 May. The project was completed on 25 June.
The speed of response and the clear coordination between all stakeholders were key to limiting business interruption and restoring operational capability.
See also Incendio – Industria produzione gomma (PV)
