According to the Républicain lorrain, a large number of firefighters was deployed to Thionville at 4.30am on Sunday morning. The fire erupted in the former New Life Fitness building now occupied by squatters on rue Maréchal Joffre.
As the fire could potentially have spread to surrounding buildings, inhabitants were evacuated. Around 60 people were taken in by the town hall.
The 40 firefighters at the scene managed to get the fire under control and no one was injured.
