Guest from Cornwall among 126 evacuated after hotel fire in Torquay
The blaze broke out at the Trecarn at St Marychurch late on Sunday night
Last updated 26th Sep 2022
A hotel guest from Cornwall is among 126 who had to be evacuated after a fire in Torquay.
Peter Foster, 51, from Saltash was relocated after being told to leave the Trecarn Hotel at St Marychurch on Sunday night.
He said: "The alarms went off round about 11am so we evacuated the building and we were outside. The fire engines were there, the firemen went in and we were moved to another hotel. The alarms were just going off so I put my shoes on, put some clothes on and went outside with everybody else".
At its height, 12 fire engines were battling the blaze which broke through the roof at the rear of a ground floor kitchen area.
The fire destroyed three rooms and left a hallway and the lobby area damaged by smoke.
The initial statement from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "12 fire engines are currently in attendance at a large fire involving a hotel in Torquay.
"Additional support resources are also at the scene including Environmental Protection Unit, one aerial ladder platform and an Incident Command Unit. Police and SWAST are also in attendance.
"Eight breathing apparatus wearers are using three hose reel jets, one attack jet and one safety jet to attack the fire, which has broken through the roof at the rear of a ground floor kitchen area. The incident has been sectorised".
In the early hours of Monday morning they confirmed the fire was within the ground and first floors but had been brought under control. They added that 126 guests had been evacuated.
By 4.30am steady progress was being made and the incident had been scaled down with two crews remaining on scene to monitor for hotspots.
The most recent update states: "This was a building of three floors 80m by 20m, used as a commercial hotel. The fire involved the first floor and roof area. Residents were evacuated to a nearby hotel. Three rooms were destroyed by fire. The hallway and lobby area were damaged by smoke".