VIDEO. Fire in Auch: “While I was picking it up, she threw a burning cloth at me”, a building catches fire after a dispute between neighbors

In front of their building, 11 rue Albert-Schweitzer in Auch, in the Gers, the residents are waiting for answers. When will they be able to return home? Will they be rehoused? Have all their belongings burned? Several hours have already passed since the fire was reported on Monday, September 23, around 11 a.m.

“We are faced with a fire that started on the outside terrace of an apartment, on the ground floor, explains a firefighter from the Gers Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis 32). The apartment is completely destroyed, the smoke and fire rose through the facade (reaching the balconies of other homes, Editor’s note).”

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Some residents managed to close their blinds before leaving, others are still in their pajamas, with a pair of socks on their feet. Around 4 p.m., the 13 residents present in the building at the time of the fire are still outside. They are waiting to find out when they will be able to return to their homes. “My shutters are going to be great,” says a septuagenarian, her eyes fixed on the flames. “I had time to close everything when I saw that it was smoking,” replies a man from Auch.

“As I was picking it up, she threw a burning cloth at me.”

A little further on, a woman is holding her little dog in her arms, tears in her eyes. She was the one who lived in the apartment that went up in smoke. “Everything is destroyed, my bike, my chairs, everything is destroyed,” she manages to say, her throat tight. A few hours later, when the firefighters have managed to bring the fire under control, she tells her story.

“I’ve lived here for eight years. This morning, I had a disagreement with my neighbour’s sister, who lives just above me,” explains Roseline. “I called the police after our altercation: I just wanted to ask her to stop yelling night and day.” According to the 53-year-old Auscitaine, it was after the police came that her neighbour started throwing “dirt” in her garden.

“While I was picking it up, she threw a burning cloth at me, on my big greenhouse, where I keep all my clothes and shoes,” she says. Despite her attempt to put out the fire with a jug of water, the flames spread. Despite the pain of seeing her home ravaged, Roseline manages to keep smiling: she was able to save her two dogs from the fire.

An investigation in progress

In the end, four people were slightly intoxicated by the smoke, two of whom were treated on site. The other two victims, including a 26-year-old man, were evacuated to the Auch hospital for a check-up. An investigation is reportedly underway. Findings were made by officers from the judicial police.

In total this Monday, 28 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, as well as three police officers. Two of them had to be placed on oxygen for 30 minutes. “We have taken precautionary measures for the officers, they are fine,” reassured the staff of the Auch police station. The person who was the victim of this disaster will be rehoused, finally specified the Sdis 32 on site.