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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Midhurst fire: Historic hotel housing refugees engulfed by blaze | Midhurst fire: Historic hotel housing refugees engulfed by blaze |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Watch: The Angel Inn hotel in Sussex engulfed by a fire | |
| Watch: The Angel Inn hotel in Sussex engulfed by a fire | |
| A 400-year-old hotel that was housing Ukrainian refugees has been engulfed by a major blaze. | A 400-year-old hotel that was housing Ukrainian refugees has been engulfed by a major blaze. |
| The fire started in a property in North Street, Midhurst, in the early hours, before spreading to the roof of the Angel Inn hotel next door. | The fire started in a property in North Street, Midhurst, in the early hours, before spreading to the roof of the Angel Inn hotel next door. |
| More than 30 people, including "a number" of Ukrainian refugees, have been evacuated, firefighters said. | More than 30 people, including "a number" of Ukrainian refugees, have been evacuated, firefighters said. |
| The community was praised for its "generosity and keenness to help" after an appeal for donations was inundated. | The community was praised for its "generosity and keenness to help" after an appeal for donations was inundated. |
| Local resident David Behan, who witnessed the fire, said the refugees spent the night in a nearby Indian restaurant before they were transported to a leisure centre, from where they have been re-homed. | Local resident David Behan, who witnessed the fire, said the refugees spent the night in a nearby Indian restaurant before they were transported to a leisure centre, from where they have been re-homed. |
| Mr Behan said: "They arrived at Christmas with very little. And what little they had, they've just completely lost, which is desperate." | Mr Behan said: "They arrived at Christmas with very little. And what little they had, they've just completely lost, which is desperate." |
| More than 30 people, including a number of Ukrainian refugees, were evacuated | More than 30 people, including a number of Ukrainian refugees, were evacuated |
| Midhurst Town Council arranged a donation point nearby for those who have been affected by the fire. | Midhurst Town Council arranged a donation point nearby for those who have been affected by the fire. |
| The site became inundated with donations and closed only hours after it opened. | The site became inundated with donations and closed only hours after it opened. |
| A council spokeswoman said: "We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity and keenness to help, and now have everything we need to provide support for those who have lost their homes and belongings." | A council spokeswoman said: "We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity and keenness to help, and now have everything we need to provide support for those who have lost their homes and belongings." |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Ben Moore, BBC News, Midhurst | Ben Moore, BBC News, Midhurst |
| The refugees had been very much welcomed into the community here. Some had jobs, and you'd often hear people speaking Ukrainian on the streets. | The refugees had been very much welcomed into the community here. Some had jobs, and you'd often hear people speaking Ukrainian on the streets. |
| The Angel Inn has been here for about 400 years, and has been owned by the same family for at least two generations. | The Angel Inn has been here for about 400 years, and has been owned by the same family for at least two generations. |
| The firefighters have told some of the residents that the building cannot be saved. It is going to have to be demolished. | The firefighters have told some of the residents that the building cannot be saved. It is going to have to be demolished. |
| It would be a horrible thing to have to lose for Midhurst. | It would be a horrible thing to have to lose for Midhurst. |
| Another local resident, Hilton Holloway, said some children were among those evacuated from the hotel, which he said had about 15 rooms. | Another local resident, Hilton Holloway, said some children were among those evacuated from the hotel, which he said had about 15 rooms. |
| "I spoke to one young woman who seemed relatively calm," he added. | "I spoke to one young woman who seemed relatively calm," he added. |
| The cause of the fire is not yet known. Four people were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. | The cause of the fire is not yet known. Four people were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. |
| Road closures are in place, and firefighters, police and paramedics remain at the scene. | Road closures are in place, and firefighters, police and paramedics remain at the scene. |
| The fire brigade said crews were called to North Street at 01:08 GMT, and 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were deployed. | The fire brigade said crews were called to North Street at 01:08 GMT, and 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were deployed. |
| A total of 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were sent to the scene | A total of 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were sent to the scene |
| Firefighters were met with a "significant fire in the roof space" at the hotel, which spread to neighbouring properties, a spokesman said. | Firefighters were met with a "significant fire in the roof space" at the hotel, which spread to neighbouring properties, a spokesman said. |
| "More than 30 people, including a number of Ukrainian refugees, were safely evacuated from the buildings, and they are now being looked after in a local relief centre," he added. | "More than 30 people, including a number of Ukrainian refugees, were safely evacuated from the buildings, and they are now being looked after in a local relief centre," he added. |
| Speaking at the scene, the brigade's area manager, Richard Abbot, said: "We are advising residents to keep their windows and doors closed as there is large amounts of smoke in the area. | Speaking at the scene, the brigade's area manager, Richard Abbot, said: "We are advising residents to keep their windows and doors closed as there is large amounts of smoke in the area. |
| "It's too early in the incident to know the cause of the fire, however we will be investigating the fire as soon as it is safe to do so." | "It's too early in the incident to know the cause of the fire, however we will be investigating the fire as soon as it is safe to do so." |
| 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. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service |
| Midhurst | Midhurst |