A warehouse fire at a large produce market that supplies much of the fresh food for the French city and the surrounding area and claims to be the largest of its kind in the world sent a billowing column of dark smoke towering over Paris.
As 30 fire engines and 100 police officers battled the fire at the Rungis International Market in the southern suburbs of Paris, firefighters asked residents to avoid the area.
According to Capt. Marc Le Moine of the Paris fire department, no one was hurt. He added the 7,000 square metre (1.7 acres) warehouse, which was the size of a soccer field, was completely out of the fire and there was no danger of it spreading.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but an investigation will be conducted, he added.
With more than 12,000 employees and warehouses stocked with produce from all over France and the world, including fish, meats, dairy goods, and flowers, the enormous wholesale market is a true town unto itself.
