A huge fire erupted on Monday evening at a waste collection and transport service in Paris. According to reports on social media, the fire has engulfed Syctom waste collection, although this has not been yet officially confirmed.

According to Syctom’s official website, it is a French local public authority and the leading European public operator in domestic waste management. 

It has six sorting centres and three incineration and energy recovery units. It processes 2.3 million tonnes of municipal waste from six million inhabitants of the Île-de-France region, including Paris.

Le Parisien also reported that the fire is located right next to the judicial court at Porte de Clichy.

The Paris Fire Department issued an alert on social media asking the public to “avoid the area to allow emergency services to work”.

In a statement, they said: “A major fire is currently underway on Boulevard de Douaumont in #Paris17.

“Avoid the area to let emergency services do their work. Residents, stay cautious.”

Paris City Hall also told Le Parisien that it is not aware any injuries at this stage.

According to reports from the French media, firefighters were dispatched to the scene and two aerial platforms were deployed to try to extinguish the blaze.

One journalist at the scene said that the “wooden beams look like they’re about to collapse”.

As a result, a nearby ring road was closed in both directions to facilitate the firefighters’ response.

Reports also indicated that around twenty people were able to evacuate in time.

Videos on social media showed huge flames engulfing an industrial building with fire engines present.

Thick smoke could also be seen rising high above the French capital.

Hundreds of people reportedly gathered to watch the “impressive” fire.