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Seaside hotel hit by serious fireSun Mar 23 10:30:13 UTC 2008 |
Seaside hotel hit by serious fireSun Mar 23 10:40:13 UTC 2008 |
| Firefighters worked through the night to control a blaze which has badly damaged a disused hotel at a seaside resort in Pembrokeshire. | Firefighters worked through the night to control a blaze which has badly damaged a disused hotel at a seaside resort in Pembrokeshire. |
| The five-storey Royal Gate House hotel on Tenby seafront was engulfed by flames at about 2300 GMT on Saturday. | The five-storey Royal Gate House hotel on Tenby seafront was engulfed by flames at about 2300 GMT on Saturday. |
| The hotel was empty but residents in flats and at a nearby hotel were moved to safety. | The hotel was empty but residents in flats and at a nearby hotel were moved to safety. |
| Fire chiefs said the "serious fire" spread to a tanning studio and had threatened a nearby cinema. | Fire chiefs said the "serious fire" spread to a tanning studio and had threatened a nearby cinema. |
| The roof of the hotel partially collapsed and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said its crews were stopped from entering the building because its structure was unsafe. | The roof of the hotel partially collapsed and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said its crews were stopped from entering the building because its structure was unsafe. |
| No-one has been injured in the fire but 40 people were moved by Dyfed-Powys Police from the Royal Lion Hotel and nearby flats. | No-one has been injured in the fire but 40 people were moved by Dyfed-Powys Police from the Royal Lion Hotel and nearby flats. |
| Assistant chief fire officer Phil Bailey said: "Fire crews are currently involved in creating a fire break to try and prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties in the area." | Assistant chief fire officer Phil Bailey said: "Fire crews are currently involved in creating a fire break to try and prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties in the area." |
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| He said firefighting conditions were proving difficult due to the unsafe structure of the building and the "close proximity of other properties". | He said firefighting conditions were proving difficult due to the unsafe structure of the building and the "close proximity of other properties". |
| Firefighters at the hotel fire scene in Tenby on Sunday |
| The fire spread to a tanning studio next door and for a time threatened a local cinema. | The fire spread to a tanning studio next door and for a time threatened a local cinema. |
| Ten fire engines were called to the hotel overnight, from as far afield as Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthen. | Ten fire engines were called to the hotel overnight, from as far afield as Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthen. |
| Divisional fire commander Nick Webley said "They have carried out some fantastic work in very difficult conditions." | Divisional fire commander Nick Webley said "They have carried out some fantastic work in very difficult conditions." |
| Cause | Cause |
| The fire had taken hold in the third and fourth floors of the building in White Lion Street. | The fire had taken hold in the third and fourth floors of the building in White Lion Street. |
| A fire service spokesperson said the fire had been "surrounded" at 0900. | A fire service spokesperson said the fire had been "surrounded" at 0900. |
| There were still around 35 firefighters at the scene, including two aerial appliances. | There were still around 35 firefighters at the scene, including two aerial appliances. |
| The building is structurally unsound amid fears of further collapse, after the front wall was lost. A survey has been carried out by Pembrokeshire County Council. | The building is structurally unsound amid fears of further collapse, after the front wall was lost. A survey has been carried out by Pembrokeshire County Council. |
| Local councillor Mike Evans said the town remained open for business, but he appealed for visitors to park their cars on the outskirts, as road closures remained in place. | Local councillor Mike Evans said the town remained open for business, but he appealed for visitors to park their cars on the outskirts, as road closures remained in place. |
| Police have had to draft in extra officers to deal with the large crowds of people who gathered to watch the fire. | Police have had to draft in extra officers to deal with the large crowds of people who gathered to watch the fire. |
| Insp Alan Millichip said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire but said a joint investigation would begin when the building was secured. | Insp Alan Millichip said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire but said a joint investigation would begin when the building was secured. |
