Major Fire Near Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Forces Runway Closures and Massive Transport Delays

PARIS, France — A massive fire broke out at a car storage depot in the municipality of Louvres, just north of Paris, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky and forcing emergency safety measures around Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport.

Authorities temporarily closed two of the airport's runways as a precautionary measure due to the heavy smoke, while local public transportation networks experienced severe disruptions.

The blaze began at approximately 3:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at a business park storage facility in Louvres used by travelers to park dozens of vehicles. Driven by high temperatures, the fire quickly consumed multiple vehicles, creating a dark, dense smoke plume visible for miles—reaching as far as central Paris.

Roughly 80 firefighters, equipped with 38 fire engines, were deployed to fight the flames. Gendarmes and emergency responders established a secure perimeter, urging nearby residents to stay clear of the area.

"Caution in the area," the regional fire brigade warned in a statement, advising local residents in surrounding municipalities to stay indoors, seal doors and windows, and shut down ventilation systems. While air traffic controllers temporarily closed two runways as a safety precaution, officials reported that flight operations managed to avoid major cancellations or severe air traffic delays.

Ground transportation felt the immediate impact of the emergency response, with local rail services experiencing temporary suspensions and closures at the nearby train station and Aéroport Charles-de-Gaulle 2 RER connection due to their proximity to the blaze. Additionally, multiple local roads surrounding the Louvres business park were blocked off to ensure clear access for emergency vehicles, forcing regional bus lines to divert. Meanwhile, environmental and safety services maintained active safety protocols by continuously monitoring air quality and smoke density around the airport's flight corridors.

Firefighters successfully contained the primary blaze by evening, preventing the flames from spreading into adjacent commercial structures. Authorities have launched an official investigation to determine the exact cause of the ignition at the vehicle storage site.