Recent fires in Courchevel and Verbier: what we know and how solidarity can be organised

The recent fires that occurred at the end of January in Courchevel and Verbier have marked the French and Swiss alpine regions. In Courchevel 1850, a fire broke out at the Hôtel des Grandes Alpes, an emblematic establishment of the Savoyard resort, located in close proximity to other luxury hotels such as Le Lana. In Verbier, in the canton of Valais, a residential chalet located in the municipality of Val de Bagnes was completely destroyed by the flames.

In Courchevel, the fire started in the evening in the roof space of the Hôtel des Grandes Alpes. The French authorities quickly proceeded with the evacuation of several hundred people as a safety measure, including guests and staff from neighbouring establishments. While no serious injuries were reported, the economic and human impact is real. A hotel of this scale employs many seasonal workers and service providers whose activity depends directly on the operation of the establishment.

In a resort such as Courchevel, where the economy relies heavily on high end winter tourism, an incident of this nature has immediate repercussions. Temporary closure, loss of income, staff relocation and uncertainty about the ongoing season are among the concrete consequences, even when insurance coverage applies.

In Verbier, the fire affected a residential chalet, with no injuries reported according to information communicated by the Valais press. The building was completely destroyed. In a Swiss alpine resort, the loss of a home in the middle of the winter season represents a major shock for the occupants, both materially and personally. This type of incident also affects the neighbourhood and the local community, which is often very close knit in mountain municipalities.

These two events, although very different in nature, highlight the same reality: after a fire, needs often go beyond the strict framework of compensation. Temporary rehousing, uncovered loss of income, human support or community assistance are among the issues frequently observed in Switzerland and in alpine regions.

According to several analyses relayed by RTS and SRF following previous incidents, local solidarity plays a key role in the post crisis phase. However, this solidarity is often informal and difficult to coordinate, particularly when support comes from different cantons or from abroad.

It is in this context that the online money pot appears as a potential tool, not automatic, but structuring when relatives, colleagues or associations wish to mobilise. A Swiss platform such as Happy Pot could, should an initiative emerge, make it possible to centralise contributions, clearly define the objective of the collection and ensure management in line with Swiss standards.

Beyond direct assistance to those affected, the fires in Courchevel and Verbier also raise the question of funding prevention and safety projects in mountain regions. Support for volunteer firefighters, improvement of equipment or awareness raising actions are regularly mentioned after this type of event. Local participatory financing then constitutes a complementary avenue to existing public mechanisms.

Tourism related businesses, hotels, ski schools or shops are also concerned. After an incident, some wish to support their employees or take part in local initiatives. Having a clear and reliable tool for collecting funds then becomes a concrete issue. In this context, Happy Pot positions itself as a Swiss solution adapted to local realities.

Even though no public collection has been organised at this stage for the fires at the Hôtel des Grandes Alpes in Courchevel or the chalet in Verbier, these events highlight the importance of having ready to use tools when solidarity decides to express itself. In an interconnected alpine environment, the ability to quickly structure transparent and traceable support remains a key element.