After the fire in a hostel in Wintzenheim, France, with eleven dead, the cause of the fire is still unclear. There are indications that safety standards were not observed in the building.
“The holiday accommodation in Wintzenheim did not meet the standards.” This is how the regional radio station France Bleu Alsace began its 10 o’clock news. “We are finding out today after yesterday morning’s dramatic fire, which claimed eleven lives. According to the public prosecutor’s office in Colmar, the 500 square meter building complex, known as La Forge – the forge – has not passed the security check for houses that receive audiences, run through.”
Nathalie Kielwasser is Colmar’s assistant prosecutor. She specified on the French news television BFM-TV that the house could accommodate 28 people in terms of bed capacity. That’s how many were there at the time of the fire. The press had speculated that only 16 people should have been accommodated.
But special rules apply to a hostel, says Kielwasser. “These could be fire doors, for example. The fire detectors must be connected to an alarm system. There must be escape routes. That was not the case as things stand at present. There were fire detectors themselves, but not the ones that are required for accommodation. I confirm, that the building had not been approved in terms of safety.”
Rescued by jumping out of the window
The news situation is different than just before. Since Wintzenheim’s deputy mayor had spoken of good renovation work, everything was fine.
Denis Renaud, head of the association, who had sent some people with disabilities from Nancy to Wintzenheim on vacation, describes how a young woman, the only survivor of this group, was able to save herself: “She lived on the first floor and was woken up by the noise of the fire, because some parts of the house were already falling. She reacted very quickly, opened a door, but behind it there was only fire. She went back to the first floor, wondered if she could use her mobile phone and her stuffed animal, but then she decided to jump right out of the window.”
France’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne (middle) visited the accident site in Wintzenheim.
“It’s a terrible drama”
Messages of condolence came from the President, the Speaker of Parliament, the ministerial staff and local politicians. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne paid a visit to the scene of the accident and the operations center. “It is obviously a terrible drama and I would like to express all my sadness and solidarity to the families who are suffering very much,” said Borne. “It’s a drama that moves us all in the middle of summer here in Alsace, where the officials mobilized immediately – but also throughout France.”
In Wintzenheim, the rescue work and investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing. According to initial findings, what exactly caused the fire on the second floor? Were there fire extinguishers in the house? Will the owner be prosecuted? There are still no answers to many questions.