Hometide House in Lee-on-the-Solent hit by 'severe' fire

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-34500248

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A man was taken to hospital after a "very severe fire" destroyed a second floor flat in a retirement home.

Fifty residents were evacuated from Hometide House in Lee-on-the-Solent, Gosport, Hampshire, at about 10:00 BST.

Fire crews, Hampshire Constabulary and the ambulance service were all in attendance.

Group manager Rob Cole, from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, called it a "very severe fire… very hot, with arduous conditions".

He added: "There was lots of smoke, lots of flames, and obviously there's a need to get into the building to search for persons as quickly as possible.

"That took an awful lot of effort."

The resident taken to hospital was being treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire.