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| Demolition begins at blaze hotel | Demolition begins at blaze hotel |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Demolition has begun at a Cornwall hotel after a fire in which a man died and four people were injured. | Demolition has begun at a Cornwall hotel after a fire in which a man died and four people were injured. |
| Police said fears were growing for six people missing after the blaze at the four-storey Penhallow Hotel in Newquay. | Police said fears were growing for six people missing after the blaze at the four-storey Penhallow Hotel in Newquay. |
| Fire crews had to withdraw when parts of the structure gave way. Police said they thought the man who died had fallen from a second-floor window. | Fire crews had to withdraw when parts of the structure gave way. Police said they thought the man who died had fallen from a second-floor window. |
| The top two storeys of the hotel and its facade will be demolished before fire service and police investigate. | The top two storeys of the hotel and its facade will be demolished before fire service and police investigate. |
| More than 80 people managed to get out of the building safely during the blaze in the early hours of Saturday morning. | More than 80 people managed to get out of the building safely during the blaze in the early hours of Saturday morning. |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| Fire crews said they were working with a specialist contractor to remove the upper floors of the building and make it safe. | Fire crews said they were working with a specialist contractor to remove the upper floors of the building and make it safe. |
| Chief Constable Stephen Otter said: "One of the difficulties we have at the moment is going through the process of interviewing everyone who has come out. | Chief Constable Stephen Otter said: "One of the difficulties we have at the moment is going through the process of interviewing everyone who has come out. |
| "The longer we go on the more concerned we become for the welfare of those people. We have to investigate what happened along with the fire service and that will take time." | "The longer we go on the more concerned we become for the welfare of those people. We have to investigate what happened along with the fire service and that will take time." |
| Nightmare end to holiday Your photos: Hotel blaze Eyewitnesses tell of blaze | Nightmare end to holiday Your photos: Hotel blaze Eyewitnesses tell of blaze |
| Cornwall Fire Brigade senior divisional officer Colin Hatch said a controlled demolition was necessary before fire and police personnel could start their investigation into the cause of the blaze. | Cornwall Fire Brigade senior divisional officer Colin Hatch said a controlled demolition was necessary before fire and police personnel could start their investigation into the cause of the blaze. |
| No-one would be allowed into the evacuated neighbouring buildings until the fire service had carried out a full risk assessment, he added. | No-one would be allowed into the evacuated neighbouring buildings until the fire service had carried out a full risk assessment, he added. |
| Cornwall Fire Brigade chief officer Matt Littmoden said there had been a timber fire escape at the rear of the hotel. He said there had been issues over the "structural integrity" of the fire escape, but no concerns over the fact that it was made of wood. | Cornwall Fire Brigade chief officer Matt Littmoden said there had been a timber fire escape at the rear of the hotel. He said there had been issues over the "structural integrity" of the fire escape, but no concerns over the fact that it was made of wood. |
| The fire escape had last passed a safety inspection in 2006, he said. | The fire escape had last passed a safety inspection in 2006, he said. |
| Devon and Cornwall emergency services said the four casualties were in hospital, but could not confirm the extent of their injuries. | Devon and Cornwall emergency services said the four casualties were in hospital, but could not confirm the extent of their injuries. |
| They said that when the fire broke out the hotel was close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building. | They said that when the fire broke out the hotel was close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building. |
| Forced back | Forced back |
| The fire service sent a total of 23 appliances to tackle the blaze after it was called to the scene at 0015 BST. | The fire service sent a total of 23 appliances to tackle the blaze after it was called to the scene at 0015 BST. |
| Three neighbouring buildings, also said to be hotels, were evacuated as a precaution. | Three neighbouring buildings, also said to be hotels, were evacuated as a precaution. |
| HOTEL FIRE HELPLINES The police information line number is 0800 056 0154The hotel firm has also set up a helpline for anyone who is concerned about a friend or relative on 01254 889 900 Guests offered refuge | HOTEL FIRE HELPLINES The police information line number is 0800 056 0154The hotel firm has also set up a helpline for anyone who is concerned about a friend or relative on 01254 889 900 Guests offered refuge |
| Mr Hatch said more than 120 firefighters who attended the blaze were forced to pull back due to the instability of the hotel's outside walls. | Mr Hatch said more than 120 firefighters who attended the blaze were forced to pull back due to the instability of the hotel's outside walls. |
| The hotel's owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks ago. | The hotel's owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks ago. |
| Ted Stimpson, deputy chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the search for the missing guests would continue and urged people in the area to stay away from the scene for their own safety. | Ted Stimpson, deputy chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the search for the missing guests would continue and urged people in the area to stay away from the scene for their own safety. |
| Local resident Luke Steward told BBC News 24 he was in a pub when the fire broke out. | Local resident Luke Steward told BBC News 24 he was in a pub when the fire broke out. |
| "We just saw the roof was well alight and 10 minutes later the lobby was ablaze." | "We just saw the roof was well alight and 10 minutes later the lobby was ablaze." |
| Mr Steward said his brother told him he had seen people jumping out of windows onto blankets in an effort to escape from the burning building. | Mr Steward said his brother told him he had seen people jumping out of windows onto blankets in an effort to escape from the burning building. |
| Emergency planning staff from Cornwall County Council have set up a reception centre at a local pub - the Fort Inn, in Fore Street, Newquay - for those evacuated. | Emergency planning staff from Cornwall County Council have set up a reception centre at a local pub - the Fort Inn, in Fore Street, Newquay - for those evacuated. |
| Some guests from the hotel were also being cared for at the nearby Reef Surf Lodge. | |
| Some have been sent to a local sports hall while others are already returning to their homes in the North West. | |
| The Penhallow is owned by Holdsworth Hotels and used regularly by Robinsons Holidays, a family-run tour operator based in Lancashire. Both firms are owned by the same parent company, O&C Holdsworth. | The Penhallow is owned by Holdsworth Hotels and used regularly by Robinsons Holidays, a family-run tour operator based in Lancashire. Both firms are owned by the same parent company, O&C Holdsworth. |
| David Lord, director of Robinsons Travel, said senior managers from the company were travelling to Newquay to assess the damage. | David Lord, director of Robinsons Travel, said senior managers from the company were travelling to Newquay to assess the damage. |
| He said: "About 86 people went down on the coaches last week and the majority of them will be from the North West. All those who are able to travel are now returning home. We will be taking each and every customer back to their home address." | He said: "About 86 people went down on the coaches last week and the majority of them will be from the North West. All those who are able to travel are now returning home. We will be taking each and every customer back to their home address." |
Were you in the area? Did you witness the fire? Send us your observations. | Were you in the area? Did you witness the fire? Send us your observations. |
| You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |