Paris fire LIVE: Explosions after van blaze near Prime Minister’s office

Further updates from fire department

The Paris fire department said the fire was quickly extinguished.

A firefighter on the scene told Le Parisien the explosions witnesses heard were small aerosol canisters detonating.

Police feared further explosions after gas canisters found

Gas canisters were reportedly inside the van, leading the police to fear further explosions.

Thankfully, these did not materialise, according to Le Parisien.

It comes after a fire broke out in front of the French PM’s official residence on Rue de Varenne in central Paris.

Smoke can be seen rising across the Paris skyline

Un #incendie de camionnette a eu lieu à côté du bureau du premier ministre, rue de Varenne, vers 9h40. La fumée est visible via notre caméra https://t.co/pIG411w4OD
Quelques infos >>> https://t.co/NnY4IC9zm2 pic.twitter.com/Q9qXopJPWD^{[7][8][9][10]}

— Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) October 7, 2025^[11]

Prime Minister’s offices just steps away from blaze

Explosions rang out in front of the Hotel de Matignon, the official residence of the Prime Minister of France, as he received political leaders to hash out the future of the country.

Sebastien Lecornu was appointed PM by President Emmanuel Macron on September 9 after the government was toppled by a vote of no confidence.

He resigned yesterday after just 26 days in office, making his the shortest rule in French history.

He is understood to have started receiving politicians at around 9am, 30 minutes before the fire broke out.

Flames have not spread to neighbouring buildings, fire department says

Local media is reporting that the Parisian fire department says the blaze was limited to only the van, and that it had not spread to other buildings.

Fire trucks were seen racing past reporters as firefighters tried to quench the flames.

Fire trucks race to tackle the blaze in central Paris

Fire trucks passed reporters gathered at the scene of the fire just steps away from the French prime minister’s official residence this morning.

According to witnesses, three explosions rang out along the Parisian street before thick smoke was seen billowing out of the side of a public works van.

Paris : une camionnette a pris feu rue de Varenne… à deux pas de Matignon. Les pompiers sont en cours d’intervention à côté des bureaux du Premier ministre.pic.twitter.com/pjc1VMjJ3E^[12]

— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) October 7, 2025^[13]

Terrifying footage shows black smoke billowing from the side door of van

Witnesses have been sharing footage of the aftermath of the explosion on social media.

One shows acrid smoke pouring out of a van belonging to a French public lighting company.

Incendie en cours rue de Varenne à Paris, une camionnette prend feu à quelques dizaines de mètres de Matignon où sont réunis Sébastien Lecornu, Gabriel Attal et Edouard Philippe notamment @franceinfo pic.twitter.com/aN9dOOlL3F^[14][15]

— AudreyTison (@AudreyTison) October 7, 2025^[16]

Fire comes as incumbent prime minister to hold talks at residence

The fire comes as incumbent prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu , is due to hold meetings following his resignation this week.

Where did the fire happen?

A van caught on fire after explosions were heard ringing out on Rue de Varenne in Paris this morning.

It’s understood that the vehicle was just a “stone’s throw” from the prime minister’s official office.