Near Perpignan: The couple escapes their burning house unharmed, the 65-year-old man returns to try to put out the fire and succumbs

This Saturday, January 18, at 7:27 a.m., emergency services intervened for a garage fire, in Espira-de-l'Agly, near Perpignan.

The fire, which started in the 20 m garage²quickly spread and threatened the home, located on rue Edith-Piaf.

On site, 32 firefighters quickly intervenedor 8 vehicles.

According to initial information communicated by the SDIS66 firefighters, one of the residents of the house, a 65-year-old man, died while trying to put out the fire. His wife, who inhaled a large quantity of smoke, was hospitalized at Perpignan hospital.

The gendarmerie specifies that the couple of owners initially left the accommodation unharmed before the man returned to try to control the fire.

The main source of the fire was quickly brought under control. “We are still looking for hot spots,” firefighters told L’Indépendant, shortly before 9:30 a.m.

The gendarmerie's criminal investigation unit is due to carry out surveys at the scene this afternoon in order to determine the causes and circumstances of the fire.