Two young arsonists sentenced for Mont-Boron fire in Nice

Two young men were arrested on the night of 6 August 2026 for setting fire to vegetation on Mont-Boron in Nice and were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, six months of which are to be served in custody.

Arson as a joke

On the night of 6 August 2026 two cousins, aged 18 and 19, decided to “joke” and set fire to dry vegetation on Mont-Boron in Nice. They used a plastic bottle filled with petrol and a lighter. The flames spread quickly, reaching a height of 30 cm and a width of more than a metre, before the young men drove away in a car.

Swift arrest

The witnesses were a couple camping in a tent at the top of the hill. They noticed suspicious activity and quickly called for help. Thanks to their prompt intervention, the fire was extinguished before it could cause serious damage. CCTV footage helped to quickly identify and detain the arsonists. The mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti, called the incident a reason for “zero tolerance” towards arsonists — the incident was reported by France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

Four arsons in one night

Investigations found that the Mont-Boron incident was not the only one. On the phone of one of the suspects, videos were found showing them making and lighting Molotov cocktails in a car park. The young men laughed and extinguished the flames, not realising the seriousness of their actions.

Trial and sentence

Judge Isabelle Demarbe-Joando emphasised that the young men could not explain their actions and showed no remorse. The city of Nice acted as a civil plaintiff in the case. The judge noted that the aim of the punishment is an immediate and deterrent effect to prevent similar incidents in the future.

— — —

Photo: Balázs Gábor / Pexels