Fire in Chamonix's Les Grands Montets
The ski area will still open this winter season
Very sad news from the Chamonix Valley. Yesterday, at around 13:40, a fire started at the Lognan cable car mid-station. The lift, which connects Argentiere and Les Grands Montets ski area, was severely damaged.
The fire started just as work was being undertaken to improve the water tightness of the structure, which not only includes the Lognan lift but also the Rider Cafe. It's been reported that the flames rapidly spread across the roof and the wooden structure. Even though helicopters and the fire brigade arrived at the scene shortly after the fire started, there was nothing that they could do. Luckily, nobody was injured.
The Lognan cable car has been severely damaged both on the section that links Argentiere and the mid-station and from the mid-station to the summit at 3300m. Five of the eight cables that support it have snapped due to the extremely high temperatures and one of the top bins has fallen to the ground.
The Compagnie du Mont Blanc has announced that, despite these damages, the Grands Montets ski area will open this winter season. The Plan Joran lift will provide access from Argentiere while the new beginner's area, as well as the Bochard, Herse and Retour Pendant lifts will be available.
