A violent fire ravaged a building under construction in the 15th arrondissement of Paris on Tuesday, July 12. Located on Rue du Charolais, the building was supposed to be the first to rise from the ground in the future Messagerie eco-district. Two days after the fire, the structure remains weakened, and the cause of the fire remains unknown. The fire broke out in the afternoon and mobilized some 180 firefighters, supported in particular by a drone to assess the damage. No casualties were reported, but the eight-story building, whose completion was imminent, is still in danger of collapsing. Firefighters, in accordance with protocol, will remain on site for 48 hours to prevent any resumption of the fire.
Evacuation of businesses and confinement of local residents
The fire led to the evacuation of several businesses, including a supermarket and a DIY store, as well as an apartment hotel. Some neighborhood residents were confined to their homes with their windows closed, while a gymnasium was opened to accommodate those trapped outside. Scenes of confusion were reported, such as that of a young girl who was trapped outside for four hours after going to the pharmacy. The mayor of the 12th arrondissement, Emmanuelle Pierre-Marie, who was on the scene yesterday morning, praised the emergency response. She also emphasized the symbolic importance of the burned-out building, the cornerstone of a 6-hectare rehabilitation project on a former SNCF railway site. According to her, the main work was to be completed within two days. While local residents are beginning to catch their breath, the neighborhood remains scarred by the recent succession of disasters. The investigation will determine the precise circumstances of the fire.
