Lyon, France – A major fire that occurred last Friday afternoon at the Bron crematorium, near Lyon, has resulted in the facility’s indefinite closure. While no casualties were reported, the damage is substantial, particularly to the technical area housing the filtration systems. The crematorium, a vital service for the Lyon Métropole and surrounding 58 municipalities, is not expected to reopen for nearly ten months, causing significant disruption to funeral services.
Extensive Damage to Filtration Systems
The fire, which started on a roof around 5:30 PM on Friday, September 4th, was brought under control by firefighters within an hour. The Métropole de Lyon confirmed that the four new filtration systems were completely destroyed. Although the cremation units themselves appear to be intact, they sustained water damage from the firefighting efforts.
“The four new filtration installations are out of service,” stated a representative from the Métropole de Lyon. “The cremation devices seem intact, but they have suffered water infiltration due to the firefighters’ intervention.”
Crematorium Closed Indefinitely, Cemetery Reopens
Emergency measures have been implemented, including the complete closure of the building “until further notice.” Access to the facility is prohibited until the structural stability can be confirmed. Fortunately, the adjacent cemetery reopened on Tuesday, September 8th.
The crematorium operates under a public service delegation. The delegate has indicated that “the procurement and installation of new filtration lines could take about ten months.” This extended closure is anticipated to significantly impact the region’s funeral arrangements.
Alternative Solutions and Potential Delays
Several alternative solutions are being explored to mitigate the impact of the closure. These include the deployment of mobile substitute equipment and the redirection of cremations to other crematoriums in the area. A partial resumption of activity without filtration is also being considered, provided it receives prefectural authorization and poses no health risks to the public.
The Bron crematorium performs approximately 3,200 cremations annually, making it the largest in the sector. Consequently, the primary impact of its closure will be an extension of cremation waiting times across the region. Other crematoriums may experience an increase in activity as services are diverted. This impact could be lessened if a viable alternative solution is found for the Bron site.
Impact on Families and Financial Coverage
For families affected by the closure, any additional costs incurred due to cremations being carried out at other facilities, including transportation, will be covered if the price is higher. However, the time frame for receiving urns will be extended. Typically, urns are available the day after cremation, but this could be delayed by an additional day or more due to travel time and the operational constraints of other crematoriums.
Investigation into Fire Origin Underway
The site was undergoing expansion work at the time of the fire. An expert assessment is pending to determine the exact cause of the incident. The investigation aims to shed light on how the fire originated on the roof of the facility.
The activity of the ceremony rooms, which were housed in a separate part of the building, is expected to resume quickly as that section was not significantly damaged.
Source: France 3 Rhône-Alpes
