6 June 2007 - Fire in France kills mother and children
France 3: Dramatic fire at Bazas,
A France 3 report highlighted a tragedy with dramatic human costt. A mother and three of her children, trapped upstairs, died certainly very rapidly killed by smoke. A fourth child, on the ground floor, burned and affected by smoke, is in intensive care.
An enquiry will establish the causes of the fire, which certainly resulted from the combustion of furniture, made principally of synthetic materials.
Quoted on France 3, Fireman Lieutenant-Colonel Jean Paul Larrouy-Castera said: "These synthetic materials have a high calorific potential, and above all release toxic smoke, and toxic gases which can self ignite because of the high temperatures. Also, they mix everywhere, mixing right in with the air, so that there is a high level of toxicity throughout the room.”
Source: France 3