Club Cinq-Sept fire
The memorial. | |
| Date | Sunday, 1 November 1970 |
|---|---|
| Time | Around 1:40 a.m. |
| Location | Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, Isère, France |
| Coordinates | 45°22′59″N 5°42′37″E / 45.38306°N 5.71028°E |
| Cause | Ignition of interior fittings made of polyurethane and papier-mâché |
| Deaths | 146 |
| Suspects | Gilbert Bas, club manager Mayor of Saint-Laurent-du-Pont Several building contractors |
| Charges | Manslaughter, numerous building code and safety violations |
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Convictions | Manslaughter |
The Club Cinq-Sept fire was a major blaze at a nightclub just outside Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, Isère, France, on Sunday, 1 November 1970. The fire claimed the lives of 146 people, almost all of whom were aged between 17 and 30. The scale of the disaster shocked the country. Subsequent official enquiries revealed a catalogue of shortcomings, oversights and evasions with regard to fire safety at both local and département level. Criminal charges were brought against a number of people; some received suspended jail sentences.