Six die in aged care home fire

The fire reportedly broke out in a bedroom on the third floor of ‘Les Anémones’ care home at around 2.30am on Wednesday 14th December. Six people, all of whom are believed to be women, have died from smoke inhalation.

Residents on the first and second floors were quickly evacuated as the fire tore through the third storey. 80 firefighters and 28 emergency vehicles rushed to the scene and tried to control the raging flames. Three people were rushed to hospital in a serious condition and at least 15 people were treated by firefighters at the scene for breathing difficulties.  

Workers at the home, situated in the small village of Saint-Julien in the 12th arrondissement of Marseille, are said to be 'in extreme shock'. In a statement to the media, deputy prosecutor of Marseille Christophe Barret said, “It was a pretty fierce fire limited to only one room. It was in this part of the building where six residents, with reduced mobility, found themselves trapped. They couldn’t get out.”

A total of 180 elderly residents are believed to have been in the nursing home at the time of the fire.

The Minister of the Department of Health, Roselyne Bachelot, is expected to release a statement early this afternoon.

Louise Kirby