On Thursday, November 7, around 6 a.m., the Reims firefighters intervened in a building located at number 11 of the René-Bride esplanade, in the Clairmarais district, where a fire had broken out. The origin of the disaster was quickly identified: a stroller (and not a trolley as was initially believed) was burning in the common areas, on the third and last floor.
The flames did not reach the apartments but a 31-year-old man was poisoned due to the strong smoke release. He does not live on site, but in another stairwell in the building.
Saved by a couple of tenants
It was a tenant on the third floor, hearing him moaning and calling for help, who took his courage in both hands to sink into the smoke: the atmosphere was unbreathable, he saw nothing but he finished. by finding the victim lying in the hallway, two meters from his front door. He dragged her into the apartment where his wife gave him first aid by cleaning his nose and face, black with soot. The firefighters then evacuated her using the large ladder, before she was taken in charge by the Samu and evacuated to the University Hospital in serious condition.
All occupants of the third floor were also asked to leave while rescue operations were carried out. Discomforted by the fumes, the tenant who came to extract the victim from the corridor did not wish to be transported to hospital.
The investigation is still underway to try to identify the person(s) behind this fire, as well as the motive. The presence of the victim at this location also remains to be clarified.
