Four dead, a building to standards … What is known about the fire in a cottage in Charente welcoming disabled adults

A person is still missing on Monday after the confraction of an old farmhouse designed to accommodate adults suffering from mental handicap. The accidental track is privileged.

A deadly fire in Montmoreau, in Charente. A cottage that welcomed eight people suffering from a mental handicap caught fire on the night of Sunday July 27 to Monday July 28. The provisional assessment is heavy, at least four dead and a missing person. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know about this drama, while research is still in progress.

At least four of the 14 people in the cottage died

Fire on a cottage located in Montmoreau, south of Angoulême, broke out around 4:30 am, according to the Charente prefecture. Less than 20 minutes later, the firefighters arrived on the spot and evacuated a person “Who could not be resuscitated and who died, suffocated”, said the secretary general of the prefecture and sub-prefect of Angoulême on Monday morning, Jean-Charles Jobart.

Three other bodies were then found under the rubble. A person, suffering from mental handicap, is still wanted by help and gendarmerie dogs on Monday afternoon, but hopes to find them alive are thin. Four other people were injured and transported to Angoulême hospital, including an absolute state of emergency, even if his vital prognosis is not engaged.

A total of 14 adults aged 20 to 75 were in the cottage: eight people suffering from a mental handicap and five supervisors, present for a week -long stay, and the two owners. The identity of all people who have lost their lives has not yet been revealed. “Some families discover the horror of these facts and will be taken care of, which is why we will not disclose any identity at this stage”, said Mathieu Auriol, vice-prosecutor at the Angoulême prosecution.

One of the three deceased was the owner of the cottage, “Voluntarily returned to try to rescue people”,, said the minister Responsible for people with disabilities, Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq, who went there this Monday afternoon. “My thoughts go to the victims, their loved ones and all those affected by this drama” she wrote on X.

The fire is now under control

Impressive flames have ravaged the cottage. Up to 24 vehicles and 85 firefighters were mobilized to fight this fire. “Currently, the fire is under control, 300 m² building have been destroyed “, said the prefecture, late Monday morning.

“It’s dramatic, reacted the mayor of Montmoreau, Jean-Michel Bolvin, quoted by Here Charente. Fortunately, in misfortune, we had fire terminals close to the loss. They made it possible to curb fire a little. But there is still a part of the house that collapsed.“” For its part, the UFCV association, organizer of the stay, expressed Monday evening “His greatest sadness, his solidarity with the affected families” AND “Mobilized alongside the authorities to understand the circumstances of the fire”. She announced the implementation of a psychological cell “To support relatives, participants and stays of the stay”.

The preferred accidental track

An investigation for “homicide or involuntary injury” was opened, but the fire is “probably accidental”said the sub-prefect of Angoulême. “There will be autopsies to confirm the causes of death”, added the vice-prosecutor to the Angoulême prosecution. The exact origin of the fire will be determined in the coming hours after the investigators.

The building was up to standard, according to the authorities

The burned building is an old farmhouse and had “The label to welcome people with disabilities during the holiday season”The mayor of Montmoreau told AFP. For As much, this cottage was not “Not subject to declaration or security commission control”, explained the sub-prefect Jean-Charles Jobart, since he received less than 16 disabled people.

In France, only lodgings receiving more than 15 people are subject to the rules of public establishments (ERP), opening for example to the installation of fire alarms. He had nevertheless been visited “by state services two years ago and had received a favorable opinion”, said the sub-prefect Jean-Charles Jobart. “There were smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, anti -fueu covers. So, at the time of control, two years ago, everything was up to standard.” he added.

The gîte was “In very good condition, everything was up to standard”, also told the Philippe Norman press, a South African in sixty years who works there punctually as a host. “The owner was part of the supervision team. The owner was not referenced as a year -round but was used to making this type of stay”also explained the minister responsible for disabled people.