On the night of Monday to Tuesday, at around 2:30 a.m., a retired lady living in the small houses on Rue du Château, opposite Parc Mathelin de Messancy, was woken up by creaking noises.I got up and saw through my bedroom window a shadow passing once, then a second time in the other direction, says the lady, still in a state of shock. I called the police, got dressed and went to sit on the front doorstep to wait for the police to arrive. That’s when I noticed a strong light coming from one of my neighbor’s windows. Very quickly I realized that the curtains were on fire.. I called the fire brigade. The ones from Aubange arrived quickly, the ones from Etalle with the big ladder, a little later. My neighbour rushed out of his house, so surprised in his sleep that he was naked and black with soot. He had to be taken away in the ambulance which also came from Etalle and which arrived later.”
The slates waltzed in a fiery sky
The fire engulfed several houses, mainly two, with impressive flames coming out of the roof and windows. With the large ladder deployed, the firefighters used very high pressure hoses.It was super impressive, “The pressure sent the slates flying,” the neighbor continued. They were flying in all directions in a night ablaze with fire and smoke.”
This Tuesday late morning, firefighters from the Luxembourg emergency service were still on site to shore up and cover the area. Rue du Château was still closed to traffic.
The small social housing estate was put to the test this weekend.On Saturday, the music festival in Mathelin Park had to be interrupted following the announcement of storms. Once the storms arrived, the deluge caused flooding, my kitchen and living room were invaded by ten centimeters of water. Then this mysterious prowler in front of my room and this fire. I hope all this is over now.”
Rehouse the main victims in the long term
Christiane Kirsch, the first alderman of Messance, in charge of regional planning and urban development, was one of the first on site and remained on rue du Château until 4 a.m.The ‘Habitations Sud-Luxembourg’ own the damaged houses, the alderman said. They are aware of this and will rehouse the victims, mainly those whose houses are beyond repair. They need to find permanent housing. For the others, the CPAS of Messancy has been responsible since yesterday evening for finding solutions for those who have not found refuge with their family or friends.”
Christiane Kirsch confirms that we narrowly escaped a tragedy: “The man who was taken to the hospital by the ambulance from Etalle had a lucky escape.”
