Terrible news out of Chamonix today as the mid-station of the Grand Montets cable car caught fire during a routine repair. Nearly 5,000 square feet of damage occurred to the building, including the cable car station’s restaurant and important lift machinery. Multiple helicopters were recruited to help control the raging fire.
According to Compagnie du Mont Blanc CEO Mathieu Dechavanne repairs will last “many months” and, in particular, it will be necessary to change the load-bearing cables and several cable cars that were affected by the flames. The fire marks the second lift-related incident in Chamonix this year, as the Aiguille du Midi cable car was shut down in July upon the discovery of a defective cable.
Footage from the incident:
[#RMBinfos]#Chamonix : Incendie en cours aux #GrandsMontets !
Plus d'informations ➡ https://t.co/KeGOhWwCWF pic.twitter.com/G2WijQ1uZE— Radio Mont Blanc (@RadioMontBlanc) September 11, 2018
[#RMBinfos]#Chamonix : incendie aux #GrandsMontets ➡ https://t.co/Jl1rjTKVtD pic.twitter.com/IwbHuVXNMu
— RadioMontBlanc Infos (@RedactionRMB) September 11, 2018
— Olly Alkema (@brb_skiing) September 11, 2018
— Olly Alkema (@brb_skiing) September 11, 2018
Lognan cable car station on fire #grandsmontets #chamonix pic.twitter.com/vy1S9y907Y
— Olly Alkema (@brb_skiing) September 11, 2018
