Real-time Crisis – Industrial Sector

Context

At the end of 2025, a French industrial group with a dozen sites in France faced a fire disaster at one of its ICPE-classified sites in western France. The fire, a large-scale fire without causing any casualties, led to the intervention of firefighters and the activation of a crisis unit operated by the competent Prefecture. Establishments near the site are confined, including two schools. A large plume of smoke formed and then dissipated quickly. The event was the subject of media coverage in the local media.

Objectifs

• To support the group’s general management and the site management impacted by the disaster in the management of this crisis on the aspects of operational management of the crisis and advice on strategy and crisis communication.

Mission Description

The support was carried out on the morning of the disaster:

• Initial qualification of the issues and needs to be covered for tailor-made support for the client
• Strategic support on crisis management on the major issues and points of attention
• Support in the organisation and management of crisis situation points for 15 days from the date of the incident
• Crisis communication support through the definition of language elements and the development of communications

Challenges and specificities

The challenges related to this service were linked to a real urgent need for support in managing a crisis in the heat of the moment for a group that did not have a strong organization and experience in crisis management.

The involvement of the prefectural authorities, the health safety issues associated with the disaster of a facility located on the outskirts of a city, the media coverage of the event, the issues of internal communication and business continuity to serve sensitive customers required the implementation of an efficient and effective crisis organization.

Alcyconie’s added value expertise

Alcyconie’s ability to urgently mobilise experts with a high level of seniority in the ability to structure a crisis organisation and to take into account all the dimensions of crisis management: crisis communication, relations with the authorities, strategy for managing a major crisis and operational support enabled the industrial group to act as effectively as possible in the management of this large-scale disaster.