Deadly Fire in Reims: Electric Scooter Confirmed as Accidental Cause

The fire that swept through a public housing building in the Croix-Rouge district of Reims during the night of Thursday, June 5 to Friday, June 6, claimed the lives of four people. On Saturday, the Reims public prosecutor, François Schneider, confirmed that the blaze was purely accidental, triggered by an electric scooter charging in an apartment on the fourth floor.

A Fire of Unusual Intensity

The fire, described as extremely intense, took over three hours to bring under control. According to the prosecutor, it appears to have started between a freezer and a washing machine, but investigations have determined that the true source was an electric scooter, which likely caught fire due to a battery malfunction. An expert analysis is underway to determine the precise cause.

François Schneider emphasized the danger posed by this type of battery, explaining that their cells tend to self-sustain combustion, making such fires particularly fierce and difficult to extinguish. First responders described a scene akin to a war zone, as panicked residents fled in disarray, further complicating rescue efforts.

Four Victims, Including Two Teenagers

Among the four confirmed victims were two teenagers. A 13-year-old jumped from a window in a desperate attempt to escape the flames and died from the fall. A charred body, believed to be that of his 15-year-old brother, was discovered in the same apartment. Their stepfather, also present, was injured but survived.

The other two victims were an 87-year-old woman and her 59-year-old son, who lived on the tenth floor and died from smoke inhalation while trying to evacuate. Two other people were seriously injured, and 26 more were briefly hospitalized. Authorities have described the human toll, now considered final, as “tragic.”

An investigation has been opened to clarify the exact circumstances of the incident and the resulting deaths, but the accidental nature of the fire has now been formally confirmed, with no evidence suggesting foul play.