2016 Rouen fire
{{Short description|Fire at the Cuba Libre bar in Rouen, Normandy, France}}
{{Expand language|topic=|langcode=fr|otherarticle=Incendie du Cuba Libre|date=January 2025}}
{{Old news|date=March 2024}}{{Infobox news event
| title = 2016 Rouen fire
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| date = {{start date|2016|08|06|df=yes}}
| time = {{circa}} 00:50 (UTC+02:00)
| location = Rouen, Normandy, France
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| coordinates = {{Coord|49.4358|1.0866|display=inline,title}}
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| cause = Accidental ignition of ceiling tiles
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| reported deaths = 14
| reported injuries = 6
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On 6 August 2016, 14 youths were killed in a fire at the Cuba Libre bar in Rouen, Normandy, France.{{cite web|title=Rouen explosion: at least 13 dead after fire at bar in French city – reports |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/06/rouen-explosion-at-least-13-dead-after-blast-and-fire-at-bar-in-french-city-reports|work=The Guardian|date=6 August 2016|accessdate=6 August 2016}}
Event
The fire started shortly before 00:50 on 6 August, when firefighters were called to the Cuba Libre bar in Rouen. The bar was hosting a private birthday party. The fire was initially reported as being caused by an "accidental explosion," but this was subsequently refuted by the local authority. The blaze took 30 minutes to put out.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
Rouen's Vice Prosecutor Laurent Labadie told The Associated Press that the first testimonies from survivors and early results from the police investigation indicated that the "fire was completely accidental." "There was no explosion," Labadie told the AP. "Candles on a birthday cake started the fire after the person who carried it tripped on the stairs leading to the basement."{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/b0cc9d4ee7864520a862884f774aa65e|title=13 dead, 6 injured as fire hits bar in French city|work=Associated Press News|date=6 August 2016|access-date=6 August 2016}}
The candle flames are believed to have set the polystyrene ceiling tiles of the basement ceiling alight. It is expected that most deaths were caused by toxic smoke inhalation, although at this time no autopsies have been carried out to confirm the individual causes of death.