Paris, fire devastates the Enfants Rouges market

During the night, a fire "devastated" the Marchè des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris located in Rue de Bretagne, in the third arrondissement of the city. This was announced by the mayor of Paris Centre, Ariel Weil.

"The Enfants Rouges market, alas, devastated by flames early this morning. Fire put out but market totally destroyed", Weil posted on X asking residents and motorists to avoid the area to facilitate rescue operations. The origin of the fire is unknown and authorities have not yet specified the exact extent of the damage.

The intervention of the firefighters

"We have put out the fire, so it will not spread beyond the covered market", Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier explained to reporters, according to whom the "metal structure" of the market has "partially collapsed inside". One firefighter "had a slight illness" but no other injuries were reported, he added, noting that firefighters received the alarm at 4.15am on Monday morning.

Founded in 1615, the Marchè des Enfants Rouges was declared a historic monument in 1982 and takes its name from the red cloth dresses worn by orphans cared for in a hospital founded in 1536 nearby by Margaret of Navarre, sister of Francis I. This hospital closed in 1772 and the market was named in memory of these "red children" in the late 18th century.