FLAMES tore 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 contain a raging blaze.
The £11,000-a-night Grandes Alpes hotel 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.
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A fire engulfed the Grandes Alpes hotel in Courchevel 1850 on Tuesday evening
Dozens of guests had to be evacuated overnight
By Wednesday morning, some 115 firefighters were still battling the flames, as they spread to nearby wooden buildings.
An emergency services spokesman said: “Around 100 people have been evacuated from the Grandes Alpes hotel, and some 60 firefighters are still involved in trying to put out the fire.
He added that “some 200 people” were also moved out of the neighbouring five-star Lana Hotel “as a precaution”, as embers and smoke drifted across the resort.
Evacuated guests were herded into a nearby municipal hall overnight, wrapped in blankets while investigators tried to determine what sparked the blaze.
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There were no serious casualties reported on Wednesday morning, beyond minor injuries to those fighting the fire in freezing weather.
Bruno Charlot, the sub-prefect in nearby Albertville, said crews were battling impossible conditions as the fire crept unseen beneath the roof.
“The Grandes Alpes guests were quickly relocated to other hotels in the resort,” he said.
“The fire spread considerably overnight, despite the firefighters’ efforts. Their work is complicated by the roof’s structure.
“It’s very difficult to reach the flames that are running under a roof made of slate and sheet metal.
“It requires removing the stones and sawing through the sheets before anyone can even access the fire. A thick layer of snow on the roof only makes matters worse. It will be hours before the fire is extinguished.”
Dramatic scenes unfolded as flames punched through the roof of the wooden chalet-style building, sending thick black smoke billowing into the night sky.
Courchevel 1850 is one of the most expensive resorts in Europe, drawing A-list names including David and Victoria Beckham, Robbie Williams, Ian Botham and the late Brigitte Bardot.
Prince William and Princess Catherine holidayed there in 2016, jetting into Courchevel 1850 on a private plane provided by the Duke of Westminster, according to reports at the time.
It was never revealed where the Royal couple stayed, but the Grandes Alpes would have been an option.
The nine-apartment hotel offers complete privacy, along with butler service, a Michelin-starred restaurants, and 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 this January with their children and Catherine’s siblings.
The terrifying blaze comes just weeks after a catastrophic fire in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, where 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a packed bar on New Year’s Day.
That disaster is now under criminal investigation, with fears that safety failings turned a celebration into a death trap.
The French bar owners have since blamed a young waitress for starting the blaze and blocking an escape route, a leaked police interview revealed.
According to leaked interrogation records 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 around 20 hours of questioning by three prosecutors, the couple allegedly pinned responsibility on waitress Cyane Panine, 24, who died in the blaze.
They claimed Cyane climbed onto a colleague’s shoulders while brandishing two champagne bottles fitted with lit sparklers – a stunt filmed on the night.
The Morretis deny any wrongdoing as the investigation continues.
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Emergency services were still battling the blaze on Wednesday morning
The Grandes Alpes is one of the most exclusive hotels in the French AlpsCredit: Grandes Alpes Private Hotel & Spa
