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| Fatal hotel fire 'a major crime' | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The fire which destroyed a Cornish hotel is being treated as a major crime by police. | |
| One man died in the blaze at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay on Saturday and police believe two people still missing also perished in the blaze. | |
| Police and fire investigation teams are due to start a search of the debris for evidence of what caused the fire. | |
| It is understood the teams will focus on a specific area of the site where a body is believed to be buried. | It is understood the teams will focus on a specific area of the site where a body is believed to be buried. |
| The search of the site, which has been reduced to rubble, is expected to take several days. | The search of the site, which has been reduced to rubble, is expected to take several days. |
| Scaffolding with screens has been erected to enable the investigation to take place out of public view. | |
| HOTEL FIRE HELPLINE Holdsworth Hotels has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about a friend or relative on 01254 889 900 In pictures: Fire aftermath Boss admits crew shortage Family's shock after fire | HOTEL FIRE HELPLINE Holdsworth Hotels has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about a friend or relative on 01254 889 900 In pictures: Fire aftermath Boss admits crew shortage Family's shock after fire |
| Det Ch Insp Darren Lockley, Senior Investigating Officer, said: "We don't know what happened. It is a crime scene. That is how we are treating it." | |
| He said police and fire investigators were trying to establish a timeline of movement of individuals who visited the hotel and the escalation of the fire. | |
| They are appealing for people with images or video recordings to come forward. | |
| Four people who were taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro are said to be improving. | Four people who were taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro are said to be improving. |
| One is in a critical but stable condition and three are in a stable condition. | One is in a critical but stable condition and three are in a stable condition. |
| Danger of collapse | |
| More than 80 people safely escaped from the building. | More than 80 people safely escaped from the building. |
| Police believe the 43-year-old man who died in the fire fell from a second-floor window. He has not yet been named. | Police believe the 43-year-old man who died in the fire fell from a second-floor window. He has not yet been named. |
| Specialist demolition crews have already pulled down the precarious upper floors of the hotel, which were in danger of collapse. | Specialist demolition crews have already pulled down the precarious upper floors of the hotel, which were in danger of collapse. |
| In the wake of the fire the town's mayor, Patrick Lambshead, has called for 24-hour fire cover from stations in the town during the summer months. | In the wake of the fire the town's mayor, Patrick Lambshead, has called for 24-hour fire cover from stations in the town during the summer months. |
| He said the number of people resident in the resort grew from about 20,000 to 100,000 over the three-month period. | He said the number of people resident in the resort grew from about 20,000 to 100,000 over the three-month period. |