Bergerac historic center hit by major fire

A violent fire destroyed a portion of the historic center of Bergerac in the Dordogne region during the night of October 29. The blaze started in the upper part of a building and spread rapidly to neighboring structures.

According to the mayor, Fabien Ruet, the fire impacted ten buildings, resulting in the destruction of 11 homes and affecting 36 other residences. Eight businesses were forced to close, and approximately 340 people were left without gas. More than 30 residents were evacuated due to the fire and the subsequent risk of building facades collapsing.

Emergency responders, including between 50 and 75 firefighters, utilized drones to locate hotspots and worked from aerial platforms to manage the danger of structural collapse. While no casualties were reported, the mayor described the event as the “fire of the century” for the historic center due to the loss of exceptional heritage. An investigation into the cause of the fire has been opened by the Bergerac prosecutor.