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Paris Ritz: Fire at world-famous hotel Paris Ritz: Fire under control at world-famous hotel
(35 minutes later)
A fire has broken out on the top floor of the five-star Ritz hotel in Paris. A fire on the top floor of the five-star Ritz hotel in Paris has been brought under control.
No injuries are reported and a fire service spokesman said the priority was to "stop the fire spreading". About 150 workers had to leave the building on Tuesday morning as the fire took hold. No injuries are reported.
The hotel - which is famously where Princess Diana spent her last evening - is currently closed for renovations and there are no guests staying there.The hotel - which is famously where Princess Diana spent her last evening - is currently closed for renovations and there are no guests staying there.
The operation will still go on for "a long time" as the fire is difficult to access, a fire service spokesman said.
The alert was raised at 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and about 60 firefighters and 15 fire engines were sent to the scene.The alert was raised at 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and about 60 firefighters and 15 fire engines were sent to the scene.
The blaze started on the seventh floor, took hold in the attic and spread to the roof.
Paris police tweeted that there was a "major fire", and advised motorists to avoid the Place Vendome area.Paris police tweeted that there was a "major fire", and advised motorists to avoid the Place Vendome area.
The area was blocked off at the height of the morning rush hour, while firefighters on cranes sprayed the flames.The area was blocked off at the height of the morning rush hour, while firefighters on cranes sprayed the flames.
Fire captain Yvon Bot said the fire was unusually difficult to access and control.Fire captain Yvon Bot said the fire was unusually difficult to access and control.
Princess Diana dined at the hotel on 30 August 1997. Later that night she and her companion Dodi al-Fayed were killed in a car crash. He was the son of the hotel's owner, Egyptian billionaire and Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed. "There is no longer any risk of it spreading, but the operation will still take a very long time," he said.
The hotel is a historic building in central Paris.
Princess Diana dined their on 30 August 1997. Later that night she and her companion Dodi al-Fayed were killed in a car crash. He was the son of the hotel's owner, Egyptian billionaire and Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed.
It was also the hotel of choice for Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway.It was also the hotel of choice for Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway.
It was due to re-open later this year after a three-year closure for renovations. The Ritz was due to re-open later this year after a three-year closure for renovations.
The Ritz name, used for hotels around the world, comes from a Swiss hotelier called Cesar Ritz, who set up the Paris Ritz and the London Ritz more than a century ago.The Ritz name, used for hotels around the world, comes from a Swiss hotelier called Cesar Ritz, who set up the Paris Ritz and the London Ritz more than a century ago.
Both hotels are now independently owned. Both hotels are now independently owned. The Barclay brothers - newspaper owners Sir Frederick and Sir David Barclay - bought the London Ritz in 1995.
Are you in the area of the Ritz Hotel, Paris? What have you seen? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories and experiences.Are you in the area of the Ritz Hotel, Paris? What have you seen? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories and experiences.
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