The alert was received by the Montpellier firefighters around 9:30 a.m. this Wednesday morning. A fire was reported on Boulevard de Strasbourg, near the roof of the south church of Saints François. The religious building is under construction. Two fire groups are on site.
Company
From daily life to major issues, discover the subjects that make up local society, such as justice, education, health and family.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the “Society” newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
The fire started mid-morning, this Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the roof of the Montpellier south church of Saints François, boulevard de Strasbourg.
The modern monument dating from 1997 is currently undergoing waterproofing repair work. In particular its very covering and very steep zinc roof, going from the top of the building almost to the ground.
According to the firefighters: “the fire affected the double-skin metal cladding roof which rests on a wooden frame. The procedure for safeguarding the works of the church made it possible to evacuate the paintings and valuable objects”.
The emergency services made cuts in the cladding to access the fire.
We make openings in the roof, firstly to get the fire and also to lower the temperature on the roof and prevent the accumulation of smoke. Because this accumulation of smoke regenerates the fire and spreads it to the wooden frame.
Eric Florès, director of the Hérault fire brigade.
80 firefighters are mobilized, a command post is activated and a representative of the town hall which owns the church is on site.
duration of video: 00h00mn17s
Fire at the roof of the south church of Saints-François in Montpellier on December 11, 2024.
•
©FTV
The fire affecting the building could have been caused by this work. Thick black smoke emanates from the site and is visible above the city.
Montpellier – smoke above Boulevard de Strasbourg – December 11, 2024.
•
© City of Montpellier
The firefighters are also attacking the flames from inside the building thanks to thermal reconnaissance which is underway in the church. Several hoses and around ten firefighters are spraying the ceiling from the office room which is currently under water.
duration of video: 00h00mn26s
Interior of the Church of Saints Francis in Montpellier at the time of the fire on December 11, 2024.
•
©FTV
Immediately after the alert, two fire groups were engaged on the site with two large ladders placed on each side of the building to surround the flames.
A security perimeter has been established around the church.
Be careful, traffic is very disrupted on Boulevard de Strasbourg and Place Carnot, towards the Saint-Roch SNCF station. Traffic is interrupted around the operations site. LRue Aiguerelle and Rue Figuier are also closed.
The intervention is underway. More information to come…
