Deliberate Fire in Poitiers Injures Elderly Woman and Forces 19 Residents to Evacuate

The blaze, linked to recent drug trafficking crackdowns, spread rapidly through a four-story building in the Trois-Cités neighborhood.

A 75-year-old woman is in critical condition after sustaining severe respiratory burns in the fire, which began early Sunday morning.
Nineteen residents were evacuated from the building, with three children and one adult treated for less severe injuries.
The fire was intentionally started using supermarket carts and a scooter, with additional fires set nearby using trash bins pushed into the street.
The Trois-Cités neighborhood, where the fire occurred, has been a focus of police efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks in recent months.
Authorities have launched an investigation into arson, with police and forensic teams collecting evidence at the scene.