Venue Penhallow Hotel Non-fatal injuries 5 Injuries 5 | Type Fire Date 18 August 2007 Total number of deaths 3 | |
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Similar 1980 Saskatoon Queen's, Gulf Hotel fire, Knights of Columbus Hostel fire, Hotel Roosevelt fire, Central Hotel Fire - Bundoran | ||
Penhallow hotel fire top 5 facts
The Penhallow Hotel was situated on Island Crescent in the surfing town of Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was a well-known hotel for holiday makers ranging from families to older residents. The hotel was built sometime between 1912 and 1917 and had been altered several times during its operation as a hotel. The building had a wooden fire escape at the rear, and a central light shaft running from the ground floor up to the roof in the centre of the hotel. Both of these aspects of the building played a dramatic role in the outcome of the fire. The Penhallow Hotel fire was reported as the worst hotel fire in the UK in nearly 40 years.
Contents
The fire
On the night of 18 August 2007 shortly after midnight a power cut was reported followed shortly by the fire alarm activating and soon smoke was seen in the building. A 999 call was made to Cornwall Fire Brigade's fire control at 00:17 and appliances from Newquay were mobilised. Around 4 minutes later when the first crews arrived on scene it was reported that the building was well alight and further crews were requested.
Over 80 guests and members of staff managed to escape, but three people were killed and five others injured. Guest Peter Hughes (a science teacher aged 43 from Staffordshire) died as a result of falling from a second floor window. Mr. Hughes' mother Monica (aged 86) also died in the blaze, along with 80-year-old Joan Harper, who was also from Staffordshire. Some guests woke to the sound of the fire alarm sounding with no immediate signs of smoke or fire.
In January 2008 police announced that the fire was being treated as suspicious, and that the deaths were now therefore potential cases of murder.
The Investigation and Outcomes
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) were criticised on how the incident was handled. It was reported that only one fire appliance could be mobilized from Newquay due to a shortage of crew, one appliance was sent and backup was drawn in from surrounding stations, however as previously started the fire had taken hold by the time of arrival of the first crew. It was found that the shortcoming of appliances did not result in the 3 deaths. However Cornwall fire and rescue put in place a system to upgrade Newquay fire station to 24hr cover during the summer months as to provide extra cover to the influx of visitor's over this period of time.
Cornwall Fire And Rescue Service