Fatal Fire Claims 11 Lives at French Vacation Home for Individuals with Disabilities

In an eastern French town early on Wednesday morning, a fire ravaged a pair of adjoining holiday cottages for persons with disabilities, killing eleven people.

The incident shook French society, which typically takes a large portion of August off for vacation.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and Minister of Solidarity and Families Aurore Berge arrived on the scene in Wintzenheim, a little village about 315 miles (500 kilometers) east of Paris, a few hours after the fire was put out. Wintzenheim is close to the German border.

According to Philippe Hauwiller, the town’s director of rescue operations, firefighters were notified of the fire (which was located kilometers) east of Paris at 6:33 a.m. 14 minutes after the initial call, the first responders arrived at the location, where 17 people had already left.

There were still 11 people inside. Hauwiller stated that given the ferocity of the flames when they arrived, it was “more than likely” that those who hadn’t managed to escape were already dead.

According to Nathalie Kielwasser, the deputy prosecutor for the area, the 500 square meter (5,400 square foot) building had been housing people with disabilities and members of a humanitarian organization with them over the summer vacation.

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Details of Blaze at Two-Story Rental Home

The structure itself was made up of two rental homes, one on the first level and the other on the second. Only five of the 16 people living on the first level were able to leave, according to Kielwasser, who told reporters that everyone staying on the ground floor was able to leave.

The blaze was put out by 9 a.m. thanks to the efforts of 76 firemen, four fire vehicles, and four ambulances, the prefecture stated in a statement.

All of the guests, according to Wintzenheim Deputy Mayor Daniel Leroy, were adults ranging in age from 27 to 50. Only the ground story of the structure where they were sleeping was left after the fire, he claimed.

Officials are unsure of what started the fire. According to Kielwasser, the deputy prosecutor, officials will look into whether the structure met all safety requirements to house such a sizable crowd.

In a statement, President Emmanuel Macron expressed sympathy to those impacted and hailed first responders.

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Source: CNN