In L’Hôpital, Moselle, the municipality partners with hairdressers to reimburse haircuts donated for wig-making for severe burn victims from the Crans-Montana fire. This initiative addresses the emotion from the Swiss tragedy on January 1, which killed 41 people and injured over 100. Donations of at least 25 centimeters are reimbursed up to 50 euros per person at town hall.
The fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, occurred on January 1 and resulted in 41 deaths. Over 100 people were injured, many with burns covering more than 60% of their bodies, classifying them as severe burn victims. Among the victims, mostly teenagers, many face permanent hair loss, leading to grief over their changed appearance.
Specialized associations create wigs from hair donations to aid these survivors. In response, hair salons have initiated collections. For instance, in Isère, a hairdresser offered free cuts in exchange for a minimum 20-centimeter donation.
The L’Hôpital commune, with 5000 residents in Moselle, adopted this approach by partnering with the hairdressers' corporation. Anyone donating at least 25 centimeters of hair receives reimbursement for the cut, up to 50 euros, directly at town hall. The collected hair is sent to two dedicated associations. The operation continues until April.
A participating salon manager told Le Parisien: “We have, near us, Coline, a young woman who suffered burns in the Swiss nightclub. To her and the other young victims of the fire, we want to show they are not alone.” This collective effort aims to support both local and distant victims of the tragedy.