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| Boss admits firefighter shortage | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The head of Cornwall's fire service has admitted he did not have enough officers to crew a second pump to tackle a fatal fire in Newquay. | |
| One man died and two people are missing after the fire at the Penhallow Hotel. | |
| The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has claimed cuts to the service compromised efforts to tackle Saturday's blaze. | |
| "Only one crew turned out from Newquay and the assumption I've made is we didn't have enough crew to mobilise the second pump," Matt Littmoden said. | |
| But he told BBC News claims of a 20-minute delay in the first pump arriving were incorrect. | |
| This fire simply highlights the concerns firefighters have on the ground Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary | |
| "From the time the call was taken to the time they requested further assistance when they were obviously on scene was in the region of eight or nine minutes." | |
| Police said a meticulous search for the missing hotel guests and for evidence to help establish the cause of the fire will not begin until Tuesday. | |
| Meanwhile, firefighters are continuing the dampen down the smouldering remains of the four-storey hotel and a screen is being built around the site. | |
| Firefighters in Cornwall have been campaigning against the downgrading of two fire stations in Cornwall. | |
| Part replacement | |
| FBU member Kevin Herniman said he was horrified by what had happened. | FBU member Kevin Herniman said he was horrified by what had happened. |
| "This goes to prove that if you cut the level of service within the fire service people will die," he added. | "This goes to prove that if you cut the level of service within the fire service people will die," he added. |
| An aerial platform, needed to fight fires in multi-storey buildings effectively, had to travel 50 miles from Plymouth to Newquay because the two platforms operated by Cornwall Fire Brigade were not operational. | |
| Mr Littmoden said one platform was awaiting a replacement part to arrive from the US, while the second machine had a computer fault which was expected to be repaired on Monday. | |
| He said while it was highly unusual for both platforms to be out of action at the same time, it was normal procedure to mobilise a unit from Devon. | |
| HOTEL FIRE HELPLINE Holdsworth Hotels has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about a friend or relative on 01254 889 900 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6953605.stm">In pictures: Fire aftermath class="" href="/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6953816.stm">Family's shock after fire | |
| "It would be quite unreasonable for me having difficulties with aerial cover provision to expect another fire brigade to bail me out," he said. | |
| FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the Newquay hotel fire reflected concerns raised by the union about cutbacks to fire service. | |
| "In Cornwall very recently we've had to demonstrate and protest against further threats to fire cover and this simply fire highlights the concerns firefighters have on the ground," he said. | |
| The Mayor of Newquay, Patrick Lambshead, has called for 24-hour fire cover in the town during the summer months. | |
| The population of the popular resort mushrooms from about 20,000 to 100,000 over the three-month period. | |
| Your photos: Hotel blaze Blaze causes disruption | Your photos: Hotel blaze Blaze causes disruption |
| Police believe the 43-year-old man who died in the fire fell from a second-floor window. He has not yet been named. | |
| The four people who remain in 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. | The four people who remain in 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. |
| Two other people reported missing after the fire presented themselves to police in Newquay on Sunday. | Two other people reported missing after the fire presented themselves to police in Newquay on Sunday. |
| More than 80 people safely escaped from the building. | More than 80 people safely escaped from the building. |
| Specialist demolition crews have pulled down the precarious upper floors of the hotel, which were in danger of collapse. | Specialist demolition crews have pulled down the precarious upper floors of the hotel, which were in danger of collapse. |
| Were you in the area? Did you witness the fire or were among those evacuated? Send us your comments and experiences by filling out the form below | Were you in the area? Did you witness the fire or were among those evacuated? Send us your comments and experiences by filling out the form below |
| 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. |