Fire in progress at the church of Saints François, near the station in Montpellier: firefighters on site, traffic closed

A fire broke out this Wednesday, December 11 at the Church of Saints François, located at the corner of Boulevard de Strasbourg and Place Carnot, in the Saint-Roch station district in Montpellier.

The priest alerted by a local resident

The fire started at the roof level, while waterproofing work was in progress, using a blowtorch. A resident of a nearby printing house alerted the parish priest, present in a room located opposite the scene of the disaster, with two other people. Smoke was visible from outside.

Firefighters mobilized two fire groups, including two large swinging ladders. A drone was also used. Traffic was closed on Boulevard de Strasbourg.

Concern for the church organ

The emergency services are working in particular to cut the metal roof in order to reach the source of the fire. At this stage, the flames would be extinguished, but the interior of the place of worship would be filled with smoke. Books and equipment present in the room near the start of the fire were able to be evacuated. The fate of the church organ remains uncertain.

The Church of Saints Francis is a building with contemporary architecture, inaugurated in 1997.