The day after the spectacular fire which ravaged an apartment and seriously damaged three other homes and two businesses, calm returned to rue des Mignons in Châtellerault.
The police have opened an investigation into “destruction by fire”. Judicial seals were placed on the three entrance doors to the building. Which is also protected by security barriers.
An expert investigation into the causes and circumstances of the fire was carried out by the scientific police and specialist firefighters.
© (Photo NR-CP, Anthony Floc’h)
This Friday, November 8, 2024, in the morning, an expertise “search for the causes and circumstances of fire” was carried out by specialized firefighters and investigators from the technical and scientific police of Poitiers.
“There is no lease”
Did the fire start due to an electrical short circuit? Or is it the consequence of human action, voluntary or involuntary? This is what the investigation will have to determine. No leads have been ruled out, declares the Châtellerault police station.
Officially, the destroyed accommodation and the three other adjoining buildings were not occupied. This is what the owner, based in Charente-Maritime, told investigators. “There is no rental lease”confirm at the police station.
New testimonies collected this Friday in the neighborhood however report regular occupation of the apartment where the fire started. “There was traffic every day on the stairs to go upstairs”testifies a local resident. “There was life in this accommodation, especially at night”describes another.
Two businesses remain closed
The police do not confirm these elements. “We have elements to check”she simply answers.
Deprived of electricity for around ten hours, the shops on rue des Mignons reopened this Friday, with the exception of the two located on the ground floor of number 18, the “B comme” gift shop and the kebab, which suffered significant damage linked to heavy water infiltration. They won't be able to reopen anytime soon. The manager of the first hopes to find a temporary fallback solution as quickly as possible.
