Car fire caused by UFO light in Chambery

Summary

On the night of April 10 to 11, 1997, a witness was awakened by a very bright white light followed by a firework-like noise. Approaching the window, he noticed that the roof of his car, parked in his home's courtyard, was on fire. He immediately called the police, who, along with firefighters, collected samples from the site. A university laboratory identified the material as basalt, suggesting it might be a meteorite. However, later experts, including a mineralogy specialist from the Museum of Natural History in Paris, dismissed this hypothesis. Further analysis showed the fragments contained elements such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and carbon, commonly found in terrestrial or marine rockets. The GEIPAN classified the case as "A", attributing it to a terrestrial rocket. Although the car owner filed a complaint, no direct testimony was provided to the SEPRA, complicating the investigation. Nevertheless, the case is published due to the significance of the analyses conducted and the importance of direct witness access to improve investigations.