French media report that eight people were killed in a fire that spread through an apartment building at 4, rue Myrha, near Montmartre early on 2 September. The Paris Fire Brigade was called at 02:23 to a waste paper fire which was quickly extinguished. It was called again at 04:30 to a fire on the ground floor. That fire spread to the lift and staircase and from there to all five floors of the building. Eight were killed, two when they jumped from a window. Four more people are seriously injured and 15 apartments were destroyed. The staircase is at risk of collapse. The Paris Fire Brigade attended with 100 firefighters and 30 fire engines.

According the Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, the building was private, had an access code, was in good condition and was not used for social housing. Bernard Cazeneuve, the Interior Minister, said that arson was suspected. Two people were seen running from the building after the first fire started.

On many occasions sprinklers have prevented an arson attack from developing into a tragedy. While the full facts are yet to emerge, no French apartment building is fitted with sprinklers.