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Deeside fire: Guests evacuated from Gateway to Wales Hotel Deeside fire: Guests evacuated from Gateway to Wales Hotel
(35 minutes later)
Nearly 50 guests have been evacuated from a hotel in Deeside, Flintshire, as emergency services tackle a serious fire that has engulfed the building. Nearly 50 guests have been evacuated from a hotel in Deeside, Flintshire, as emergency services tackle a serious fire that has engulfed the building
Firefighters, a number of ambulances and police are at the Gateway to Wales Hotel in Welsh Road, near Queensferry, which is on the border with England. Forty-five firefighters are trying to control a fire in the roof of the Gateway to Wales Hotel on Welsh Road, near Queensferry.
The alarm was raised at about 04:27 GMT and police said the fire and billowing smoke were causing significant disruption on nearby roads. The alarm was raised at about 04:30 GMT and police said billowing smoke was causing significant disruption on nearby roads.
It is understood nobody is hurt. Nobody has been hurt.
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said all 47 guests and a member of staff had been accounted for.North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said all 47 guests and a member of staff had been accounted for.
It said seven fire appliances were at the scene, along with two aerial ladder platforms. Area Manager Kevin Roberts, the senior office at the scene, said they all got to safety after the hotel's smoke alarms were activated.
"On arrival, firefighters found the roof space of the building well alight and used four sets of breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets and two main jets to tackle the fire," a spokeswoman added. He said crews had "pretty much surrounded" the fire, which had engulfed the roof.
"All residents and staff at the hotel have been accounted for and have been evacuated to a safe area." "The roof structure itself is pretty much gone," he added.
Welsh Road is closed in the area and the A494 has been closed to lorries. An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out later.
Witness Danny Lawton said he was woken at 05:00 by police banging on the door.
He said: "The woman says 'there's a little bit of a fire at the hotel next door you need to get out'. Not sure what that woman thinks a big fire is but I'd call this a bit more than a little fire."
Welsh Road, Station Road and two lanes of the eastbound A494 are closed because of smoke blowing across the roads.
Flintshire council said it anticipated heavy congestion in the area and suggested roads would remain closed for at least six hours.
North Wales Police tweeted: "Please use alternative route as long delays are expected."North Wales Police tweeted: "Please use alternative route as long delays are expected."
Traffic Wales said the A494 eastbound road at Queensferry was also closed because of smoke blowing across the road. Councillor Christine John, who lives on Welsh Road, said the fire must have been "dreadful" and "so frightening" for the guests.
"Roads in the surrounding area are being heavily affected by smoke and are likely to close due to the safety," it said. "There's just an awful lot of blue lights there now and an awful lot of billowing smoke. It looks so scary," she added.
The Alliance Armed Policing Unit, which works with North Wales Police, said it was supporting emergency teams at the scene.The Alliance Armed Policing Unit, which works with North Wales Police, said it was supporting emergency teams at the scene.
"All blue light services at scene," it tweeted. Highways England also tweeted to warn motorists in England about the disruption: "#A494 is currently closed in both directions due to a building fire... closed from A550 and A548 junctions near Queensferry #Deeside... #M56 west traffic be aware..."
Highways England also tweeted to warn motorists in England about the disruption: "#A494 is currently closed in both directions due to a building fire. .. closed from A550 and A548 junctions near Queensferry #Deeside... #M56 west traffic be aware..."
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We have resources at the scene, with four ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, two duty officers and a hazardous area response team from the North West Ambulance Service."A Welsh Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We have resources at the scene, with four ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, two duty officers and a hazardous area response team from the North West Ambulance Service."