Cause of Ritz Paris fire ‘a mystery’
The cause of a fire which swept through the top floor of the Ritz Paris hotel yesterday remains a mystery.
Up to 60 firefighters from 15 crews fought for several hours to bring the blaze under control.
The hotel was empty when the fire broke out around 7am on Tuesday morning as it had been closed since 2012 for refurbishments.
It was due to reopen in March, but it seems possible that it will remain closed for longer due to the damage caused by yesterday’s blaze.
Sources said the roof had been destroyed and all the levels underneath were flooded by water from the fire hoses.
Captain Yvon Bot, spokesman for the Paris fire service, said the cause of the fire remained a mystery.
The hotel in the Place Vendome is owned by Mohammed el-Fayed and has attracted famous guests since it opened in the late 19th century.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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