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Fire destroys Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris's oldest covered food market

A fire overnight from Sunday to Monday destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges in central Paris. Firefighters say it is under control, one firefighter was lightly hurt, and the cause is unknown.

3 outlets · 1L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from The Straits Times.

Image: Daily Mirror
Image: France 24
Image: The Straits Times

1 / 3

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2A fire overnight from Sunday to Monday 12 October destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges, a covered food market in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. Left · 1Firefighters were called at around 4:15 am and, according to the Daily Mirror, found the market already fully engulfed. Mixed · 2Reuters, carried by The Straits Times, reported that the fire broke out at about 3 a.m. (0100 GMT) according to French media, an hour or so earlier than the 4:15 am alarm time given by the Mirror, and that firefighters were still tamping down the smouldering ruins several hours later.

Mixed · 2Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier of the Paris firefighters said the market was "completely destroyed" and that "nothing remains" of it, and that its metal structure had "partially collapsed" inside. Left · 1The Mirror reports that Paris firefighters put the destroyed area at 1,000 square metres. Centre · 1One firefighter was lightly injured, according to de Bouvier.

Mixed · 2Ariel Weil, mayor of the central Paris district, said the fire was under control and would not spread; he said "The worst has been avoided" and that no neighbouring buildings were affected. Right · 1Reuters also quoted Weil as saying the market was "totally destroyed", and said the cause of the fire is not yet known. Centre · 1France 24 says the cause of the fire is unknown.

Centre · 1France 24 describes the market, in the Marais, as the capital's oldest covered food market, existing since 1615 and named after red-clad orphans at a nearby hospital until 1772; it says Food & Wine ranked it fifth worldwide for street food this year.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Breaking-news report stressing the spectacle and scale: flames seen across the city and emergency crews swarming the tourist attraction.
Emphasis
Visual drama, the total destruction, 1,000 square metres burned, social media images.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the firefighter injury, that no neighbouring buildings were hit, the unknown cause, or the market's history.
For example
“A massive fire has destroyed a popular Paris market with flames seen across the city.” — Daily Mirror

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Measured report that attributes statements to authorities and adds historical context about the market.
Emphasis
History since 1615, the Food & Wine ranking, the light firefighter injury, no damage to neighbours, unknown cause.
Leaves out or plays down
Gives no alarm time or burned area in square metres.
For example
“One firefighter was lightly injured in the blaze, De Bouvier said.” — France 24

Right1 outlet

Framing
Reuters wire copy run by The Straits Times: a short, factual bulletin on the loss of the historic market, attributed to authorities and French media.
Emphasis
Mayor's 'totally destroyed' quote, the 1615 founding under Louis XIII, the 3 a.m. start, smouldering ruins, unknown cause.
Leaves out or plays down
No firefighter injury, burned area, or Food & Wine ranking.
For example
“A fire tore through Paris' oldest covered food market in the early hours of Monday, authorities said, destroying the historic site popular with tourists.” — The Straits Times