Second blaze in four months at derelict ex-hotel

1 hour ago

Pritti MistryEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — The fire at the former Balmoral Hotel started at the rear of the property on the first floor, spreading to the upper floors and into the roof

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service A night-time scene showing the upper floors of a brick terraced building on fire. Thick white smoke rises from the roof, while bright orange flames glow inside two attic-level windows and a bay window underneath. A powerful stream of water is being directed upward from the right, arching onto the roof area. The sky is black. — The fire at the former Balmoral Hotel started at the rear of the property on the first floor, spreading to the upper floors and into the roof

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a derelict former hotel for the second time in four months.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said it sent six fire engines to a building fire on Fort Terrace in Bridlington on Tuesday night. It started on the first floor at the rear of the property, spreading to the upper floors and into the roof.

Crews were called at about 21:30 BST to the former Balmoral Hotel, which was the scene of a similar blaze in December. No casualties were reported and nobody was rescued from the property, the fire service said.

Road closures are in place on The Promenade, between Westmoreland Avenue and Princess Terrace, and police urged people to avoid the area.

An aerial view of a row of five-storey brick-terraced buildings following a fire. The roof of the middle property shows extensive damage, with large sections burned through and collapsed, exposing blackened beams and interior spaces. Adjacent roof on right appears slightly damaged with black staining. A fire service aerial ladder is extended from street level up to the front of the middle building. Behind the properties, small gardens and yards are visible, with a few people standing on a grassy area nearby. The scene is in daylight. — An investigation has started to establish the cause of the fire

The fire service said the blaze had been brought under control in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with firefighting efforts scaled down to two fire engines and one aerial platform.

However, crews will remain at the scene throughout the day to monitor the blaze, the service added.

The building has been closed since 2019 after it ceased to operate as a 34-bedroom hotel.

Eddy Chapman/Bridlington Leisure Association A multi-storey brick residential building at night with flames glowing along the roofline and dark smoke rising into the air. A red fire engine is parked at street level in front of the building, with blue and white emergency lights visible. Streetlights illuminate the scene, and a tall cylindrical metal structure stands to the right of the frame. Several windows are visible across the building façade, and the image appears slightly blurred, consistent with a screenshot taken in low-light conditions. — Firefighters were called to the former Balmoral Hotel at about 21:30 BST on Tuesday

An investigation has begun to establish the cause of the fire which a fire service spokesperson said "may be tricky as the property is derelict so any gas and electrical supply have been switched off which can be common reasons a fire can start".

East Riding County Council, which runs the neighbouring East Riding Leisure Bridlington, said the recreational centre was "open as normal and is accessible" despite the road closures.

A fire broke out at the former hotel in December, leading to the discovery of 198 cannabis plants at the property which had a street value of £110,000.