This Tuesday, February 22, is the big return of the show Koh-Lantasur TF1. A show at the heart of a new controversy. One of the candidates on the show is a commander of the Hérault fire brigade. Commander François Descamp is indicted for manslaughter following to the terrible fire of Gabian occurred in the department in 2016. During this fire, a firefighter lost his life, and three other firefighters were injured. In this case, seven firefighters are indicted, including Commander François Descamp, in particular for poor management of the fire and obsolete equipment. The case is still ongoing.
A lack of respect for the victims
The idea of seeing this indicted commander appear on the Koh Lanta entertainment program shocks the victims. In particular Lucas Canuel, one of the victims of the Gabian fire. For this firefighter, there is a real lack of respect: “I’m angry! I saw my colleague Jérémy burn in front of me. Out of respect for us, out of respect for the victims and for the firefighters, it’s not wise to show up on Koh Lanta. What a firefighter firefighter destroys other firefighters morally like this? This is not the behavior of a firefighter, this is the behavior of a 12 year old child who is guided by his ego. I think it’s time that he comes back as an adult, maybe not that he recognizes his responsibilities, there is a place for that, it’s called the court, but clearly he disrespected the families and the firefighters.”
I understand it’s a lifelong dream, but it’s inappropriate behavior.
For Lucas Canuel, even if this fire commander is presumed innocenthe would still have to out of respect for the victims not to present himself as a candidate for the show or at least warn the production: “My life is firefighters. Under my command, something like this is happening, like this Gabian fire, I ask to be suspended until the light has been shed. That’s being responsible and adult. I just want those charged to take responsibility, that’s what being an adult is all about. I have the impression that today a 12 year old child said to himself great I am going to do Koh Lanta but at no time did he say to himself I am still indicted in a case, ok I am presumed innocent but I am the commander of the fire brigade, my men I have to respect them, that’s what being a leader is all about.
As a reminder, the fire commander participates in Koh Lanta on a personal basis, on his leave. In a press release, the SDIS said it had never asked him to participate in this program. “The indictment of the officer in this case comes under his former functions as head of the training department and does not constitute a fault, he remains presumed innocent” The SDIS in a press release, recalls its full victim support and intends to let justice be exercised in peace.