Major fire breaks out at one of France’s most popular Christmas markets

Seven large wooden chalets were destroyed and other property severely damaged after a huge fire broke out at one of the most popular Christmas markets in France over the weekend.

The blaze at the Christmas market at the Village de Noël in Barcarès (Pyrénées-Orientales) is thought to have started at 04h30, overnight on Sunday November 10 to Monday November 11, said firefighters to the AFP.

It began in the restaurant and food area of the market, spread over 3,000m2, and caused the explosion of several bottles of gas. A total of 61 firefighters attended the scene, and managed to get the fire under control towards 07:00.

“Seven large chalets, as well as four refrigerated lorries, and four shipping containers used to store food” were destroyed, the fire brigade told France Bleu. 

Clear-up operations were continuing yesterday (Monday, November 11).

 No one was injured, but Bruno Berthet, secretary general of the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture, said people were in “shock”. “It's material damage with a major economic impact,” he said, reported Ouest France.

“At this stage, the cause of the fire remains unknown and is under investigation,” said the department fire service SDIS (Service départemental d’incendie et de secours) 66. 

Investigators from the techniciens en identification criminelle (TIC) who attended the scene on Monday night have said that the cause so far appears “probably accidental”, said L’Indépendant.

A gendarmerie investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the fire has now been opened.

The opening of the market, which had been set for Saturday, November 16, may now be delayed. Yet, the Barcarès mairie has said it is “doing everything it can” to try to open “next week”, it told France Bleu.

The Barcarès Christmas market is one of the busiest in France, and is spread over six hectares. In 2023, it attracted around 1.5 million visitors, France 3 Occitanie reports.