FLAMES have ripped through one of the most exclusive hotels in the French Alps – forcing panicked guests to flee into the snow as firefighters battled through the darkness to put out the raging blaze.
The £11,000-a-night Hotel Grandes Alpes in Courchevel 1850 – a celebrity playground once used by Prince William for family holidays – was engulfed after a fire broke out in its attic at around 7pm on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday morning, about 115 firefighters were still battling the flames, which had spread to nearby wooden buildings.
A spokesman for the emergency services said: “Around 100 people have been evacuated from the Hotel Grandes Alpes and around 60 firefighters are still involved in tackling the fire.
He added that “about 200 people” were also evacuated from the neighboring five-star Lana Hotel as a “precautionary measure” as embers and smoke drifted across the resort.
Evacuated guests were herded into a nearby community hall overnight, wrapped in blankets, while investigators tried to figure out what started the fire.
THE FACE OF BRAVERY
Swiss bar inferno survivor shows scars and reveals how she escaped disaster
AIRCRAFT DISASTER
Five dead as plane crashes during emergency landing and explodes in fireball
No serious casualties were reported Wednesday morning, except for minor injuries to those battling the blaze in freezing weather.
Bruno Charlot, sub-prefect in nearby Albertville, said crews were battling impossible conditions as the fire crept invisibly under the roof.
“Grandes Alpes guests were quickly relocated to other hotels in the resort,” he said.
“Despite the efforts of the firemen, the fire spread considerably overnight, their work is complicated by the structure of the roof.
“The flames that are raging under a roof made of slate and tin are very difficult to reach.
“He wants to remove rocks and cut sheet metal before anyone can get to the fire. The heavy snow on the roof is only making it worse. It will be hours before the fire is out.”
Dramatic scenes unfolded as flames ripped through the roof of the log cabin-style building and thick black smoke billowed into the night sky.
Courchevel 1850 is one of the most expensive resorts in Europe and has hosted A names including David and Victoria Beckham, Robbie Williams, Ian Botham and the late Brigitte Bardot.
Prince William and Princess Catherine vacationed there in 2016, arriving in Courchevel 1850 on a private plane provided by the Duke of Westminster, according to reports at the time.
It has never been revealed where the royal couple stayed, but the Grandes Alpes would be one possibility.
The nine-suite hotel offers total privacy along with butler service, Michelin-starred restaurants, a swimming pool and sauna.
There have also been unconfirmed reports in France that the Prince and Princess of Wales enjoyed a discreet family getaway in Courchevel with their children and Catherine’s siblings this January.
The horrific blaze comes just weeks after a catastrophic blaze in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured more than 100 in a crowded bar on New Year’s Day.
The disaster is now under investigation with fears that a security failure turned the celebration into a death trap.
The bar’s French owners have since accused the young waitress of starting the fire and blocking the escape route, a leaked police interview revealed.
According to leaked interrogation tapes seen by Le Parisien, Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica Moretti, 40, repeatedly told prosecutors: “It’s not us, it’s the others.”
During about 20 hours of questioning by three prosecutors, the couple allegedly blamed waitress Cyane Panine, 24, who died in the fire.
They claimed Cyane climbed onto a colleague’s shoulders and brandished two bottles of champagne with lit sparklers – a stunt filmed at night.
The Morretis deny any wrongdoing as the investigation continues.
This is breaking news. More to follow… please refresh more updates and watch the-sun.com for the biggest stories of the day…
Leave a Reply