Fire threatening Saint Tropez under control
Fire threatening Saint Tropez under control
15 August 2006
published by www.int.iol.co.za
Saint Tropez, France — A large forest fire near the chic French Riviera resort of Saint Tropez that threatened luxury properties and forced the evacuation of 4 000 people has been brought under control, firefighters said on Tuesday.
The blaze, which began on Monday outside Ramatuelle, a town just 5km from Saint Tropez, raced through 56 hectares of woodland, a fire service commander, Colonel Eric Grohin, said.
It occurred on a long holiday weekend, at a time when Saint Tropez was brimming with holiday makers.
Celebrities are also a common sight at the resort, which earlier this month hosted Sean “P Diddy” Combs, heiress Paris Hilton and former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson.
“There are still a few hotspots that we are tackling,” Grohin said after overflying the area in a helicopter fitted with a thermal camera.
Most of the million-euro properties scattered through the area were unscathed, though an unoccupied century-old chateau suffered damage to its roof and pool area.
