Fire in Poitiers: criminal origin, 75-year-old woman in absolute emergency… what we know about arson in a building

A building was destroyed by a fire in Poitiers, here is what we know.

A fire broke out early in the morning

It’s around 6 a.m. according to The New Republic that a fire broke out in front of the building located at 14 rue du Commerce, in the Trois-Cités district, in Poitiers. A neighborhood where several anti-drug operations took place recently, we learned Le Figaro from firefighters and a source close to the investigation.

An arson fire

The fire was described as being of “criminal origin”. In question? A scooter and a shopping cart used as fuel to light the fire. At the same time, two trash fires were lit in the immediate vicinity of the disaster, according to the local daily.

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Five apartments destroyed and six people injured

Five apartments located vertically from the start of the fire were destroyed by the flames, despite the intervention of 70 firefighters. In all, 19 people were evacuated and six people were injured in the disaster. Including a 75-year-old woman in absolute emergency, burned to the respiratory tract, three children and an adult in relative emergency. They were taken care of by the Samu and transported to the Poitiers University Hospital. The victims found refuge in a local public school.

An investigation opened for “criminal damage”

To determine the criminal origin of the fire, an investigation was opened by the public prosecutor’s office for “criminal damage” according to our colleagues at France Bleu Poitou. She was entrusted to the property crime brigade of the territorial crime division of the Poitiers police station, according to Le Figaro.