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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Huge blaze destroys resort hotel | Huge blaze destroys resort hotel |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A hotel has been destroyed and hundreds of people led to safety after a huge blaze in Blackpool. | A hotel has been destroyed and hundreds of people led to safety after a huge blaze in Blackpool. |
| About 100 firefighters battled flames at the six-storey Grand Hotel in Station Road on Monday night. | |
| More than 100 people were evacuated from 60 holiday flats and a nightclub as fire chiefs described the scene as "like something from the Blitz". | More than 100 people were evacuated from 60 holiday flats and a nightclub as fire chiefs described the scene as "like something from the Blitz". |
| Police have closed Station Road and Lytham Road and the hotel is expected to be demolished. | Police have closed Station Road and Lytham Road and the hotel is expected to be demolished. |
| Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the area at 2150 BST on Monday. | Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the area at 2150 BST on Monday. |
| A fire service spokesman said: "It's a scene of absolute devastation, the hotel was collapsing." | A fire service spokesman said: "It's a scene of absolute devastation, the hotel was collapsing." |
| As well as leading people to safety from the nightclub and holiday flats, other buildings including guesthouses and hotels were evacuated as a precaution. | As well as leading people to safety from the nightclub and holiday flats, other buildings including guesthouses and hotels were evacuated as a precaution. |
| Fire investigators said they are 'not ruling out arson' | |
| The fire service spokesman added: "At the fire's height it looked like something from the blitz. | The fire service spokesman added: "At the fire's height it looked like something from the blitz. |
| "It is not yet clear how the fire began but we are not ruling out arson." | "It is not yet clear how the fire began but we are not ruling out arson." |
| The building, made up of 52 self-contained flats, is currently for sale for £1,300,000. | |
| During the incident, floors and walls collapsed as firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames. | During the incident, floors and walls collapsed as firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames. |
| Engineers from Blackpool Council will visit the site later to make a full assessment. | Engineers from Blackpool Council will visit the site later to make a full assessment. |
| Nobody was injured and people left without a bed were taken to Palatine Sports Centre. | Nobody was injured and people left without a bed were taken to Palatine Sports Centre. |
| More than a 250,000 litres of water was pumped from the Sandcastle Waterpark in the town to enable fire crews to bring the blaze under control. | |
| Firefighters also has to tackle a number of smaller fires which began when embers and debris from the main blaze were spread by strong winds, said the fire service. | |