Pont-Évêque (Isère): sabotage of the high-voltage pylon at the industrial paper mill

Pont-Évêque. A transformer set on fire: criminal origin beyond a doubt
Le Dauphiné, September 12, 2023

There is no doubt that the fire which destroyed a 63,000 volt electrical transformer in Pont-Évêque on the night of Monday September 11 to Tuesday September 12 was of criminal origin.

The fire was reported at 3 a.m.: bushes along Avenue Denis-Crapon were on fire. By the time the first fire fighters had arrived, the flames had spread to an electrical transformer at the foot of a pylon supplying the Finnish paper mill Ahlstrom-Munksjö, located at in the commune on the banks of the Gère. Although the fire was quickly brought under control, Enedis staff were also called in to assess the damage.

The fire caused a temporary power cut, particularly for residents of Pont-Évêque and the neighboring town of Estrablin, before the network was switched over. This was also the case for the paper mill which could be powered back on by a backup network.

On site, the police noted that a fence had been cut over a distance of some thirty meters, enabling the perpetrators to gain access to the base of the pylon without being seen from the road. As a result, the public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into destruction by arson. Samples were taken to determine whether an accelerant had been used by the arsonists.

Although no one has yet claimed responsibility, this fire adds to a long list of similar incidents carried out in recent years in the Isère département. Last night’s fire is reminiscent of the sabotage of a 225,000-volt power line supplying the Hexcel plant in Sablons on May 19, which is still being investigated by gendarmes from the Grenoble Research Unit.

via: sansnom