"I was afraid that the whole building would collapse," says Rachida. "It trembled, I was in my kitchen, I felt it," adds her neighbor, Sandrine. The shock was immense for the inhabitants of Hauts-de-Marcouville, in Pontoise. The slab collapsed after a fire broke out in the parking lot of the residence around 2 a.m. A dozen cars were on fire when the firefighters arrived.
[INTERVENTION IN PROGRESS] đźš’ Vehicle fire in an underground car park at Hauts de Marcouville in Ville-Pontoise ...
Gepostet von Sdis 95 - firemen from Val-d'Oise am Freitag, 3. Juli 2020In total, 50 vehicles ended up charred. "We had been on fire for two hours when the slab collapsed," said the operations manager of the fire brigade. We fell back, we had no injuries. »The subsidence is visible over approximately 600 m².
Drones and a robot used by firefighters
The fire soldiers have deployed large resources. A hundred people and thirty vehicles were sent to the site. They used drones and a robot loaned by the Paris fire brigade to inspect the site and complete the extinction. The fire was contained at around 8 a.m.
The firefighters also had to manage the evacuation of buildings 30, 23, 24 and 25. In total, around 160 people are to be relocated. Most of them were welcomed in the Philippe-Hemet sports hall. They were taken in charge by the Red Cross, the Civil Protection and the municipal services.
"I'm sick of it, we're going to leave from Marcouville"
“It was my husband who woke me up at 2 am, remembers Mina, who lives in a building across from the damaged flagstone. There was smoke everywhere, it even came home. We immediately closed the window. We heard explosions. My husband said it must be the tires of the exploding cars. "
She indicates that she was very marked by the panic that took hold of her. " I was very afraid. I even want to move. We don't know what can happen next. If it happens to us, we can die, ”she adds.
Thaylor is also thinking of packing up. “We were fed up, it's all the time that cars are crying in the neighborhood, storms this mother. I lost three cars last night in the basement. How do you go to work or take the children to school? This time I'm really fed up, we're going to leave from Marcouville. "
Residents panicking at their windows
An 18-year-old woman describes a panic scene in the middle of the night. "It's scary, it looked like a movie! We saw people panicking at their windows or stranded on their balconies, they cried for help to come and save their children. "
At the Philippe-Hemet sports hall, the municipal services begin to install carpet in the gymnasium, in case people are made to sleep on site that night. "We work with associations and reception structures to rehouse everyone but if necessary, we also have beds, hygiene products and food to house them all weekend", explains Stéphanie Von Euw, new mayor (LR) of Pontoise, a few hours from her official installation.
Increased surveillance to avoid squats and looting
In parallel, the lessor is working on the installation of anti-squat doors in the basement at each access door to the accommodation. A security guard will remain posted at each stairwell to prevent any attempt to return home or pillage. "We don't want to take any risks," continues the elected official. The priority is to know if the structure of the buildings is affected. Several appraisals are in progress. "
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At the gymnasium, Sandrine and Rachida are still in shock from what they experienced. “The firefighters told us to go out because it could collapse. We just took what was necessary. We don't know if we're going to be able to come back. We just have our IDs. "
Thomas, 24, is getting used to it, after a first evacuation a few months ago in Herblay-sur-Seine. “I was playing the console. I smelled an odor. When I turned on the light I saw that there was smoke everywhere in my house, ”he said.
Vedant, 27, lives in the home of young workers in Building 30. “I woke up because there were explosions. There was smoke, I couldn't see anything because it was so dense, ”he says. He left the premises around 5:30 am when the alarm went off.
Like many people in the gymnasium, he only took his phone. "For now, I'm here. I don't know too many people around. Maybe we will go to the hotel. I hope I can get my things back, "he adds.
Wild mechanics in the basement causing the fire?
The police from the Cergy police station deployed personnel to secure the perimeter. An investigation has been launched to find out the exact origin of the fire, which remains unknown at the moment.
However, residents have denounced for many years the unsanitary condition and illegal activities taking place in this underground car park. "Young people use it to store stolen cars or motorcycles," says Anton, who has lived in Hauts-de-Marcouville for more than twenty years. They collect the spare parts then they empty the fire extinguisher on the carcass to remove their fingerprints. All day and until sometimes 4 am they do mechanics to repair black cars. "
