Educational materials destroyed
“During the night, an individual lit several small fires, particularly on wooden street furniture and trash cans in the neighborhood. The flames then spread to the roof of the establishment where the damage was significant,” explains the municipality. “It was a burnt trash can, leaning against the Maison Daran, which transmitted the fire,” confirms Pierre Segura, the president of Francas de Pau. This Saturday, December 14, the police took scientific samples as part of the investigation.
Part of the roof was damaged by the flames.
DR
“The Daran house is unusable for a while. It can no longer accommodate kids,” laments Pierre Segura. The disaster also destroyed part of the association's educational materials stored for end-of-year activities. The roof, partly damaged, had to be covered. “We care a lot about this house and so do the families. We hope to be able to reopen it as soon as possible,” continues the disappointed association manager. These premises also housed the neighborhood CCAS.
A complaint filed
Unable to bring itself to leave the families without a solution, the association, in consultation with the City, had to find an emergency fallback solution and shake up its organization. Thus, the 70 children registered at the leisure center for the next holidays will be welcomed in the Maison de l'Enfance Gabard, located at 31 avenue Honoré Baradat, “in quality and safe premises”, specifies Pierre Segura. For after-school hours on Wednesday, a discussion is underway with the City. In operation for more than three decades, it receives students from the three schools located nearby: Henri-IV, Marca and Bosquet.
Following this incident, the association indicated that it would file a complaint this Monday. “We didn’t need this kind of event. I hope that the author(s) will be identified,” says Pierre Segura who still does not understand how “someone could set fire to a public building”. And to conclude: “This makes absolutely no sense and leaves me speechless.”
