A 39-year-old man was arrested in Bédarieux (Hérault) for allegedly setting multiple fires, including a garage, while heavily intoxicated. His alleged activities led to his indictment and pre-trial detention. The man confessed to being responsible for several recent fire incidents in the area.
Man Charged in Bédarieux Fires; Pre-Trial Detention Ordered
Man confesses to multiple fires, faces up to 10 years in prison.
- A 39-year-old man has been indicted for setting multiple fires in Bédarieux.
- He confessed to starting three fires on August 7, and is suspected of a garage fire on July 28, 2025.
- The suspect had a blood alcohol level of 3.6 grams at the time of his arrest.
- He has four previous convictions since 2014 for violence, threats, and drunk conduct.
- He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
In Bédarieux, Hérault, a 39-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, August 7, after being caught in the act of starting a fire. The arrest followed reports from a vigilant resident and his son, who had observed two fires earlier that afternoon near the Bédarieux railway track. At 11:45 p.m., they alerted the gendarmerie when they saw their neighbor attempting to ignite vegetation with a lighter.
The man offered no resistance and was taken into custody, visibly intoxicated. His blood alcohol level was measured at 3.6 grams. During questioning, he admitted to starting three fires that day. Authorities have linked him to the destruction of a garage in Bédarieux on the night of July 28, 2025, around 2 a.m. The garage fire occurred near the suspect’s residence.
The investigations of the gendarmes made it possible to make the link with the destruction by fire of a garage of Bédarieux on the night of July 28, 2025 around 2 am, near the home of the suspect.
Raphaël Balland, public prosecutor of Béziers
The suspect denies involvement in the garage fire, though he was present when firefighters arrived and had traces of burns on his person. He claimed he was injured trying to extinguish the fire himself.
A History of Alcoholism and Previous Convictions
The 39-year-old, who has resided in the neighborhood since July 2025, described himself as an alcoholic with a high daily consumption for the past decade. His struggles with alcohol have led to four prior convictions since 2014 for acts of violence, threats, and drunk conduct.
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 9, 2025, an investigating judge in Béziers indicted the man. He was subsequently placed in pre-trial detention. The prosecutor added that investigations are ongoing and are expected to take several months, with a psychiatric evaluation anticipated.
For these alleged offenses, the man faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.
