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| Eastbourne fire: Claremont Hotel 'engulfed in flames' | Eastbourne fire: Claremont Hotel 'engulfed in flames' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Victorian seafront hotel has been "engulfed in flames" after a fire broke out in its basement. | A Victorian seafront hotel has been "engulfed in flames" after a fire broke out in its basement. |
| Eastbourne's Grade II* listed Claremont Hotel was evacuated after the blaze started at about 08:50 GMT. The Pier Hotel has also been evacuated. | Eastbourne's Grade II* listed Claremont Hotel was evacuated after the blaze started at about 08:50 GMT. The Pier Hotel has also been evacuated. |
| About 60 firefighters and 12 engines have been sent to the scene. | About 60 firefighters and 12 engines have been sent to the scene. |
| Six people have been treated for minor injuries, with one taken to hospital suffering from breathing difficulties, the ambulance service said. | Six people have been treated for minor injuries, with one taken to hospital suffering from breathing difficulties, the ambulance service said. |
| All those who were in the hotel when the fire started have been accounted for, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. | All those who were in the hotel when the fire started have been accounted for, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. |
| Nearby residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed. Roads in the area have been shut. | Nearby residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed. Roads in the area have been shut. |
| Flames spread from the basement of the Claremont and could be seen coming out of windows and the roof. | Flames spread from the basement of the Claremont and could be seen coming out of windows and the roof. |
| "The building has been seriously damaged and will need to be examined by building experts before a decision is made about its future," a fire service spokesman said. | |
| Simon Palmer, who works at the neighbouring Pier Hotel, said the Claremont was "engulfed in flames" and added the fire had "taken three-quarters of the roof away already". | Simon Palmer, who works at the neighbouring Pier Hotel, said the Claremont was "engulfed in flames" and added the fire had "taken three-quarters of the roof away already". |
| He said he heard a "very loud explosion" and thought parts of the hotel were collapsing. | He said he heard a "very loud explosion" and thought parts of the hotel were collapsing. |
| Many of the guests he had spoken to were having breakfast when the blaze started so were able to escape quickly, he said. | Many of the guests he had spoken to were having breakfast when the blaze started so were able to escape quickly, he said. |
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| Guests Jenny and Alan Powell, from Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, described "a massive explosion". | Guests Jenny and Alan Powell, from Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, described "a massive explosion". |
| Mrs Powell said: "I thought a big window had blown out and then we realised it was more serious and the wall had blown away and there was debris everywhere." | Mrs Powell said: "I thought a big window had blown out and then we realised it was more serious and the wall had blown away and there was debris everywhere." |
| Her husband said a few people were "lying on the floor really shaken up". | Her husband said a few people were "lying on the floor really shaken up". |
| Eastbourne hotelier Sheikh Abid Gulzar, who owned the Claremont for nine years until 2016, said it was "very sad and very shocking". | Eastbourne hotelier Sheikh Abid Gulzar, who owned the Claremont for nine years until 2016, said it was "very sad and very shocking". |
| He said: "I had done lots of work on this building. I spent nearly £1m on refurbishments." | |
| Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews said: "This is a very serious incident and the fire took hold very quickly. | Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews said: "This is a very serious incident and the fire took hold very quickly. |
| "The swift actions of the hotel staff meant everyone got out of the hotel safely, and we thank them for their efforts." | "The swift actions of the hotel staff meant everyone got out of the hotel safely, and we thank them for their efforts." |
| Eastbourne Borough Council said guests from the Claremont Hotel were being taken to the town hall where they were being offered refreshments and help. | Eastbourne Borough Council said guests from the Claremont Hotel were being taken to the town hall where they were being offered refreshments and help. |
| The 72-bed hotel forms part of Eastbourne's Grand Parade on the town's seafront, close to the pier which was devastated by a fire in 2014. | The 72-bed hotel forms part of Eastbourne's Grand Parade on the town's seafront, close to the pier which was devastated by a fire in 2014. |
| The building, now comprising the Burlington Hotel and the Claremont Hotel, was constructed between 1851 and 1855 and given a Grade II* listing in 1949. | The building, now comprising the Burlington Hotel and the Claremont Hotel, was constructed between 1851 and 1855 and given a Grade II* listing in 1949. |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. |