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Man dies in seafront hotel fire | Man dies in seafront hotel fire |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man died and several people were taken to hospital after a fire at a seafront hotel in Blackpool. | |
The fire broke out in the basement of the four-storey Manor Hotel on Central Promenade at about 0330 BST. | |
Five residents were inside at the time, including a couple from Scotland and a man who died after becoming trapped in his room on the second floor. | |
He was rescued by firefighters but later died in hospital after suffering a heart attack. | |
The fire also affected the neighbouring Waverley Hotel, which was also evacuated. | |
Twelve fire engines were called to the scene and at its height, about 100 firefighters were tackling the blaze. | |
They were forced to get out of the building after part of it collapsed. | |
The severity of the blaze was such that the breathing apparatus of one firefighter was smouldering and started to burn as he searched the building. | |
Sixty people were evacuated from neighbouring hotels and taken to safety in a nearby leisure centre. | Sixty people were evacuated from neighbouring hotels and taken to safety in a nearby leisure centre. |
Five residents were inside when the fire broke out | |
A section of the promenade between Rigby Street and Vauxhall Square was closed, and the tram service along the promenade was suspended. | |
Jade Cook and her partner Kenny Harper, both from Edinburgh, were inside The Manor Hotel when the fire broke out. | |
They said they were gasping for air as thick smoke filled the building. | |
Mr Harper said: "I had to hold Jade's hand to be able to see it was that dark, and that smoky." | |
It is not yet clear how the fire started but fire investigators remain at the scene. | |
John Taylor, of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It was a very intense fire. | John Taylor, of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It was a very intense fire. |
"It seems to have started in the basement but there is no information as to the cause - we can't rule anything out." | "It seems to have started in the basement but there is no information as to the cause - we can't rule anything out." |