Guests flee blaze at Bournemouth hotel

More than a hundred guests at the Durley Hall hotel in Bournemouth fled to safety after a fire swept through the ground floor while they were sleeping. The night porter at the 81-bedroom hotel raised the alarm after spotting the blaze at 10.45pm on Sunday (22 July).

An off-duty fireman staying at the hotel rescued a disabled man while the other guests filed out of the building. Two other disabled guests were led to safety before a dozen firefighters spent an hour bringing the fire, which started in a false ceiling above the toilets, under control.

The 102 guests sheltered in the reception area of the neighbouring Diplomat hotel until they were allowed back to their rooms at 1am. Station Officer Alan Jones, of Dorset Fire and Rescue, said an electrical fault had sparked the fire, which had been going for about half-an-hour.

Jones said: "It was lucky somebody spotted it when they did, otherwise the fire may have taken more of a hold. Most of the guests were in their beds at the time and were able to get out, but three disabled guests had to be helped to safety."

The ground floor was severely smoke-logged, causing thousands of pounds-worth of damage.

by Ben Denman (Bournemouth News and Picture Service)