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Massive hotel blaze in Blackpool
FIREBALLS shot 30ft into the sky as an inferno robbed Blackpool of another of its landmark buildings.
More than 100 firefighters fought in vain to save The Grand on Station Road, South Shore, after a devastating blaze broke out last night.
For eight hours fire crews – many drafted in from across the North West – battled to stop flames, whipped up by strong winds, spreading to neighbouring homes and businesses.
More than a quarter of a million litres of water was pumped from the nearby Sandcastle WaterPark to fight the fire while residents in nearby properties were evacuated.
It is not yet known how the blaze started, but fire chiefs today confirmed it could be arson.
Council chiefs today confirmed what remains of the Grand Hotel Holiday flats will be demolished today.
The drama began at 9.50pm when staff and customers in the neighbouring Paris Casino saw smoke pour into the premises. Quick-thinking management led customers to safety.
Police sealed off the area as firefighters used aerial platforms and jet hoses to fight the blaze from above.
"The first hour was manic," said firefighter Fraser Smith, from Blackpool Fire Station. "You could feel the huge heat radiating out.
"We were at the Yates's fire earlier this year and this one was a similar size and we had a similar problem of the wind causing havoc.
"This one was perhaps more dangerous though because the building became very unstable."
Hundreds of residents and holidaymakers watched firefighters successfully contain the blaze.
Hot embers showered down from the building and nearby houses had to be doused with water to prevent them catching. The casino part of the building was saved from the worst of the damage.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Lancashire, Peter O'Brien, who took command of the operation, said: "All the surrounding properties were affected. Originally we were fighting it from inside the building but as it has started, and for safety reasons, we have pulled people out to tackle it from outside. On one side we have an aerial and high reach platform to prevent it spreading to the adjacent casino and on the other side to shops and houses.
"It has been a tremendous effort in very, very difficult conditions by our officers in a complex building with severe winds chasing the fire through the building."
John Child, manager of the Sandcastle WaterPark, said: "The fire service were running out of water so approached me to see if they could use some of ours.
"We emptied about a quarter of a million litres of water from our two large reserve tanks. The fire was so ferocious and the flames so high that I thought they were never going to put it out.
"These were extraordinary circumstances. We will be open for business today despite our actions."
The fire was under control just after 2am and finally extinguished at 6.30am. By daylight 30 firefighters remained at the scene.
There has been massive structural damage to partly-disused Grand buildings. Before it was closed it was marketed as having five en-suite hotel rooms 51 ensuite self-catering flats. The leisure facilities included heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool bath and solarium.
The blaze is believed to have begun near the rear of the building, although the cause is still unknown and it will be sometime before fire investigators can go inside.
A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said: "We are not ruling out arson. It is certainly one of the avenues we will be investigating.
"A boarded up property does not just spontaneously go up in flames so I would not refute that this could be an arson attack.
- Osborne Road, Withnell Road, Station Road, Dean Street and the junction of Lytham Road and Station Road remained closed to traffic for the remainder of the day.
Full story and pictures, see today's Gazette.
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Weather for Blackpool
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
