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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fire engulfs empty seafront hotel | Fire engulfs empty seafront hotel |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A large fire has engulfed an empty seafront hotel in Weston-super-Mare sending up plumes of black smoke. | A large fire has engulfed an empty seafront hotel in Weston-super-Mare sending up plumes of black smoke. |
| The blaze has destroyed half of the roof and damaged the top floor of the Royal Pier Hotel on Burnbeck Road, a spokeswoman for the fire service said. | |
| Police have closed roads on and around the seafront and about 20 residents from nearby homes have been evacuated. | Police have closed roads on and around the seafront and about 20 residents from nearby homes have been evacuated. |
| Avon Fire and Rescue said 50 firefighters and 10 appliances were used to bring the fire under control. | |
| Two aerial ladders are being used to help the crews douse the flames. | Two aerial ladders are being used to help the crews douse the flames. |
| Flats evacuated | Flats evacuated |
| "We haven't fully accounted for everyone so we're unsure whether there was anyone inside," the spokeswoman said. | "We haven't fully accounted for everyone so we're unsure whether there was anyone inside," the spokeswoman said. |
| "At the moment the fire is in the roof and top floor of the hotel. | "At the moment the fire is in the roof and top floor of the hotel. |
| "There's a lot of smoke billowing into the air, so this fire can be seen as far back as the motorway." | "There's a lot of smoke billowing into the air, so this fire can be seen as far back as the motorway." |
| Vanessa Setterington of North Somerset Council said: "We're advising people to go indoors and stay there because we don't at this stage know what the flames contain. It's a safety measure from the Health Protection Agency." | Vanessa Setterington of North Somerset Council said: "We're advising people to go indoors and stay there because we don't at this stage know what the flames contain. It's a safety measure from the Health Protection Agency." |
| The evacuees are being looked after by the council. | The evacuees are being looked after by the council. |
| John Widlake, 70, General Manager of the Captain's Cabin flats on Burnbeck Road, said the fire broke out about 1800 BST. | John Widlake, 70, General Manager of the Captain's Cabin flats on Burnbeck Road, said the fire broke out about 1800 BST. |
| "Police came and got us all out of the flats," he said. | "Police came and got us all out of the flats," he said. |
| 'Really sad' | 'Really sad' |
| "I had to turn my tea off and come running out. I've only got my shorts on. I think we'll be out for a couple of hours yet. | "I had to turn my tea off and come running out. I've only got my shorts on. I think we'll be out for a couple of hours yet. |
| "The roof has gone it's just the remains of the concrete structure that's left. | "The roof has gone it's just the remains of the concrete structure that's left. |
| "I think it'll be after midnight before the flames are all out. As soon as they get one bit of the fire out it breaks out in another place." | "I think it'll be after midnight before the flames are all out. As soon as they get one bit of the fire out it breaks out in another place." |
| Ann Reed, who used to live and work at the Royal Pier Hotel, said the fire was more bad news for Weston. | Ann Reed, who used to live and work at the Royal Pier Hotel, said the fire was more bad news for Weston. |
| "It's very sad because it looks to me like the roof has collapsed," she told BBC Radio Bristol. | "It's very sad because it looks to me like the roof has collapsed," she told BBC Radio Bristol. |
| "It's going to really alter the outlook of the seafront." | "It's going to really alter the outlook of the seafront." |
| In July 2008 the wooden pavilion on the historic Grand Pier was destroyed by fire. | In July 2008 the wooden pavilion on the historic Grand Pier was destroyed by fire. |