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Safety work at fire-ravaged hotel | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Construction crews are working to make safe a seaside hotel gutted by fire as rescuers wait to begin searching the building for four people still missing. | |
A man died and five people were hurt in the blaze at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, on Saturday morning. | A man died and five people were hurt in the blaze at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, on Saturday morning. |
Police said they believed the man who died had fallen from a second-floor window of the hotel. | Police said they believed the man who died had fallen from a second-floor window of the hotel. |
More than 80 people escaped from the building safely but fears are growing for those still missing. | |
Chief Constable Stephen Otter said: "The longer we go on the more concerned we become for the welfare of those people." | Chief Constable Stephen Otter said: "The longer we go on the more concerned we become for the welfare of those people." |
Wooden fire escape | Wooden fire escape |
Of the five injured, two were said to be in a critical condition. | Of the five injured, two were said to be in a critical condition. |
Hotel demolished | Hotel demolished |
On Saturday, construction crews demolished some of the gutted remains of the four-storey hotel. | On Saturday, construction crews demolished some of the gutted remains of the four-storey hotel. |
Fire crews said they had been working with a specialist contractor to remove the upper floors of the building to make it safe. | Fire crews said they had been working with a specialist contractor to remove the upper floors of the building to make it safe. |
A fire service investigation will begin and police said a detailed search would start to see if anyone died inside the hotel itself. | A fire service investigation will begin and police said a detailed search would start to see if anyone died inside the hotel itself. |
Cornwall Fire Brigade chief officer Matt Littmoden said there had been a timber fire-escape at the rear of the hotel. | 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 it was made of wood. | He said there had been issues over the "structural integrity" of the fire-escape, but no concerns over the fact it was made of wood. |
Burglary | Burglary |
The fire-escape had last passed a safety inspection in 2006. The hotel's owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks ago. | The fire-escape had last passed a safety inspection in 2006. The hotel's owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks ago. |
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 Nightmare end to holiday | 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 Nightmare end to holiday |
Police said a burglary took place the evening before the fire, but they were not currently linking the two events. | Police said a burglary took place the evening before the fire, but they were not currently linking the two events. |
They are keen to talk to any potential witnesses of the burglary which happened shortly after 1900 BST on Friday. | They are keen to talk to any potential witnesses of the burglary which happened shortly after 1900 BST on Friday. |
Devon and Cornwall emergency services said that when the fire broke out at 0015 BST, the hotel had been close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building. | Devon and Cornwall emergency services said that when the fire broke out at 0015 BST, the hotel had been close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building. |
The fire service sent a total of 23 appliances to tackle the blaze. | The fire service sent a total of 23 appliances to tackle the blaze. |
Police Superintendent John Green said assistance was drawn from a wide area. | Police Superintendent John Green said assistance was drawn from a wide area. |
"We live in a very rural part of the world. With its own beauty comes the fact that resources can be dispersed across the 1,400 square miles of Cornwall," Mr Green said. | "We live in a very rural part of the world. With its own beauty comes the fact that resources can be dispersed across the 1,400 square miles of Cornwall," Mr Green said. |
Three neighbouring buildings were evacuated as a precaution. | Three neighbouring buildings were evacuated as a precaution. |
Your photos: Hotel blaze Eyewitnesses describe fire | Your photos: Hotel blaze Eyewitnesses describe fire |
Some guests from the hotel were cared for at the nearby Reef Surf Lodge and a sports hall while others returned to their homes in north-west England. | Some guests from the hotel were cared for at the nearby Reef Surf Lodge and a sports hall while others returned to their homes in north-west England. |
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 had travelled to Newquay to assess the damage. | David Lord, director of Robinsons Travel, said senior managers from the company had travelled to Newquay to assess the damage. |