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| Exeter fire hits 'oldest hotel in England' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of firefighters are battling a blaze which has ripped through buildings in Exeter, including the "oldest hotel in England". | |
| The fire is believed to have started at an art gallery which faces Exeter Cathedral in Devon, but has now spread to the nearby Royal Clarence Hotel. | |
| About 110 firefighters, police and paramedics are at the blaze, which began at about 05:20 BST. | |
| Historian Dr Todd Gray said the buildings were "hugely significant". | |
| Latest on the fire, and other Devon news | Latest on the fire, and other Devon news |
| He said: "It's the building where they first declared themselves as a hotel, before that we had inns, but they took the new French word and applied it to their building. This was the place to stay | |
| "All these buildings have medieval origins and the buildings in between are very fine 17th century buildings of Exeter at its height. So whatever you see from the outside, it's got a deeper, more interesting past just behind the plasterwork. | |
| "It's hugely significant for Exeter." | |
| The Canon at Exeter Cathedral said she had seen "flying debris". | |
| Anna Norman Walker, who can see the fire from her window, earlier said: "The main concern was a lot of debris flying from the roof of the affected building which was travelling - certainly some of it made it to the roof of the Royal Clarence Hotel." | Anna Norman Walker, who can see the fire from her window, earlier said: "The main concern was a lot of debris flying from the roof of the affected building which was travelling - certainly some of it made it to the roof of the Royal Clarence Hotel." |
| The hotel has been evacuated and all staff and residents are accounted for. There are no reported casualties. | The hotel has been evacuated and all staff and residents are accounted for. There are no reported casualties. |
| A spokesperson from the hotel said: "We are continuing to monitor the situation and send our sympathy to our neighbours and all those affected by the fire." | |
| The fire service said air is being pumped through Costa and Laura Ashley - which are close to the buildings - to stop the fire spreading. | |
| History of Exeter Cathedral | History of Exeter Cathedral |
| Source: Exeter Cathedral Education Department | Source: Exeter Cathedral Education Department |
| Incident officer Bill Haberton, from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said they were "throwing a lot of resources" at the fire. | Incident officer Bill Haberton, from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said they were "throwing a lot of resources" at the fire. |
| He said: "We're going to be taking water from various locations because we're overrunning the water supply in the middle of Exeter at the moment." | He said: "We're going to be taking water from various locations because we're overrunning the water supply in the middle of Exeter at the moment." |
| A couple who live in a pub nearby evacuated for fear of the blaze spreading to their premises. | A couple who live in a pub nearby evacuated for fear of the blaze spreading to their premises. |
| 'Building went up' | 'Building went up' |
| Kirsty said the flames had gone up quickly. | Kirsty said the flames had gone up quickly. |
| She said: "We heard the noise and looked out the window and saw the flames and decided we didn't want to be there. | She said: "We heard the noise and looked out the window and saw the flames and decided we didn't want to be there. |
| "We'd seen the flames go up, it's a bit scary really. | "We'd seen the flames go up, it's a bit scary really. |
| "The pub we live in is made of wood so we didn't want to be there really." | "The pub we live in is made of wood so we didn't want to be there really." |
| Rob added: "It brings it home a bit, it's a little bit scary. You don't think a building would go up that quick but it's gone." | Rob added: "It brings it home a bit, it's a little bit scary. You don't think a building would go up that quick but it's gone." |
| As a result of the fire, Queen Street, High Street, Cathedral Green and other surrounding roads are closed. | As a result of the fire, Queen Street, High Street, Cathedral Green and other surrounding roads are closed. |