(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Lawsuits are already lining up after a reported 5,250 tons of chemicals, oil and fuel additives went up in flames in a massive fire at a Berkshire Hathaway-owned Lubrizol plant in Rouen, Normandy, France.
Nearby residents sheltered in place and local schools were closed, as more than 130 firefighters battled the fire, which left the facility in ashes. There was also concern that the nearby Seine river would be polluted.
Fears of toxic chemical contamination are ongoing, but France’s Minister of Health has announced that “first samples remain below the recommended thresholds of the normal
environment.”
The Rouen plant was founded in 1954, and manufactured and packaged additives for lubricants and paint.
No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.
© 2019 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.