Firefighters stage tunnel fire drill at Grand Paris Express site in Nanterre

A large-scale firefighter exercise will take place Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Grand Paris Express construction site for the future Nanterre-La Folie station, simulating a tunnel fire to test emergency response procedures. The drill, organized with the Société des grands projets, will simulate a fire behind the Yandé tunnel boring machine on Line 15 West, including a scenario where personnel cannot evacuate. Significant Paris fire brigade resources will be visible from surrounding areas in Nanterre and Courbevoie. The exercise aims to test safety protocols for underground works and tunnel boring machine interventions. The future station, located 27 meters deep in the Groues district, will eventually connect Line 15 with RER E, with civil engineering work ongoing since 2024.