He wanted to “tighten the bonds” of his team: a former fire chief sentenced to 3 years in prison for 6 arsons

The Tulle judicial court was looking into the case of Alain Tabaste, 63, the former head of the Marcillac-la-Croisille barracks, in Corrèze (New Aquitaine), this Tuesday, November 5. The man was sentenced to three years in prison for deliberately causing six forest fires. “He was unsuspected, he was a good center manager” according to the words of his superiors reported by France 3.

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It was between 2020 and 2022 that the arsonist firefighter took action. In Eyren, Espagnac, Gimel-les-Cascades and Sexcles, the fires he started ravaged hundreds of hectares of forests, mobilized hundreds of firefighters – including those from Marcillac-la-Croisille – and significant resources, including Canadair. No deaths were reported.

“I was stupid and I’m going to pay for it”

To explain his actions, the arsonist firefighter declared that he wanted to ensure the proper functioning and “tighten the bonds” of his team made up of around 25 volunteers. The president of the court retorted: “The gendarmes do not commit thefts to ensure the cohesion of the brigade”.

The civil party's lawyer, Maître Dominique Val, deplored that Alain Tabaste “does not want to recognize the consequences” of his actions. The accused asked for forgiveness several times, while downplaying the scope of his crimes. “I must have done 4,000 or 5,000 procedures in thirty-nine years. Five days, I was stupid and I'm going to pay for it.”