Guests evacuated as fire hits Devon hotel
More than 50 people were evacuated from a hotel in Devon after a fire broke out on the 3rd floor in the early hours of Monday morning.
60 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Tanton Hotel for several hours.
Witnesses Sharon Knox and 12-year-old son Connor Wells saw that there were people trapped on the roof of the building. Ms Knox said: “At first we thought it was ducks on the river but then we heard people shouting ‘help, help’, so we dialled 999. I asked for the coastguard because I thought someone had fallen in the river but then Sam got the binoculars out and said ‘mum, the hotel’s on fire’. The smoke was bellowing over and we could see the flames on the roof.”
The hotel has suffered extensive damage to the 3rd floor and the 2nd floor and roof area have been partially damaged by smoke.
Graham Rooke from Bideford fire station said: “At the height of the fire there were 60 firefighters on scene and I would like to commend the crews for their initial actions working in very arduous conditions. This was a multi-agency approach and I would also like to thank police, ambulance crews and hotel management for their assistance in affecting the rescue of all 55 persons.”
Some residents at the hotel lost their belongings and were provided with replacement items from the Rotary shop in Boutport Street, Barnstaple.
A 58-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of arson.
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