Le Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges, the market for red children, was completely destroyed by fire on Monday morning in Paris. Ariel Weil said the 3rd arrondissement market had been totally gutted, leaving about 20 traders without their stalls.
The first emergency calls came at 4.15am on Monday, and about 150 firefighters with about 50 vehicles were mobilised. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, while Pierre de Bouvier said there was nothing left and all the stalls had burnt down.
Paris Centre and the 3rd arrondissement
Weil, the mayor of Paris Centre, posted that the fire was under control but the market was completely destroyed. He also said, "We're devastated," after describing the loss in a message on Monday morning.
The market stood in the Haut Marais and was known for its international food stalls. It opened under Louis XIII of France in 1615, took its name from a nearby hospital-orphanage linked to Marguerite de Navarre, and was listed as a historic monument in 1982.
Lt Col Pierre de Bouvier
Weil said the steel structure had partially collapsed inside, even as the fire was kept from spreading beyond the covered market. He added, "There's a lot of emotion and grief, but also a sense that we've escaped the worst."
The immediate question is what caused the fire that destroyed the market. For the traders who lost their stalls on Monday, the priority now is whether the site can be made safe and when work on any recovery can begin.
