Deadly fire near Toulouse: an eight-month-old baby died, a mother seriously injured … what we know about the tragedy
This Wednesday, an eight-month-old baby died in a fire in an apartment in Beauzelle, northwest of Toulouse. His mother, badly burned, struggles not to succumb to her injuries.
The scene is dramatic. A family is gathered at the foot of a wood-clad building whose roof is completely destroyed by the flames. They cry and scream in pain. Two men, in the middle, seem stunned by the news.
The youngest member of their family, a girl barely eight months old, died. Her mother is in grave danger. She struggles not to succumb to her injuries in the hospital. This absolute drama was played out this Wednesday in the middle of the afternoon in the town of Beauzelle, north-west of Toulouse.
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Deadly fire in a building near Toulouse: an eight-month-old baby found dead, his mother seriously injured
A neighbor gives the alert
Shortly after 3 p.m., it was the neighbor of an apartment located rue de Rhune, near Andromède, in the new districts of Beauzelle, who alerted the emergency services. She was embarrassed by the smoke before seeing large flames coming out of the window of the victims’ accommodation, on the third and top floor of a small recent building. The emergency services, very quickly intervened on the scene, saved the life of the mother in extremis but her eight-month-old baby was no longer breathing. And they couldn’t revive him.
The mother burned in the legs and chest
The 40-year-old, burned in the torso and legs, is currently being carried out at the Purpan hospital. His life would still be in danger. According to the testimonies collected, this mother had been living alone in this apartment for a few months. “Her husband lives in Merville, a nearby town,” said a witness.
At the end of the afternoon, around 5 p.m., the firefighters were still fighting the flames, under the gaze of many residents. One of the neighbours, shaken by the events, was also taken care of by the emergency services. “It’s a historic family from Beauzelle, everyone knows each other here. They have always lived with us. I am shocked, as are their relatives. The emotion is very strong this Wednesday. For this reason, the town hall installed immediately a psychological unit. We prefer all those who feel affected by this drama to go there”, explains Patrice Rodrigues, the mayor of Beauzelle.
Intervention of firefighters in Beauzelle.
The privileged accident track
The fire was finally brought under control shortly before nightfall. At first glance, the damage is significant. Three families will be relocated while waiting for their homes to be secured. “We have no right to complain, it’s only material for us. We have a thought for this lady and especially for her child. It’s horrible”, confides one of the inhabitants.
Arrived on the spot at the same time as the chief of staff of the prefect, the gendarmes of the company of Toulouse Saint-Michel are in charge of the investigations. A priori, according to the first elements appearing on the spot by the firefighters, this fire seems accidental. Investigators will have to determine the origin.