Overview
- The blaze began around 4:00 a.m. on Monday on Route de Montélier and destroyed apartments on the 7th to 9th floors and the building stairwell, forcing dozens of firefighters to intervene.
- Reports differ on casualties but officials say between 14 and about 20 residents suffered light injuries or smoke inhalation and were treated in hospitals in Valence and Romans‑sur‑Isère.
- Investigators found traces of flammable product on several floors and the parquet has assigned the case to the Division de la Criminalité Organisée, which is treating the fire as likely deliberate.
- Prosecutors say the building had been the target of a prior attempted arson and that a family with members linked to drug trafficking once lived there; about ten people have been arrested since March in related probes into shootings, arson attempts and homicides.
- Local leaders condemned the attack, the prefect ordered CRS units to the neighbourhood for an extended period, and authorities warn the incident could sustain an escalation in narcotics‑related violence and lead to further arrests and prosecutions.