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Derelict ex-hotel blaze treated as suspected arson

Pritti MistryEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
News imageHumberside 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.Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
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

A second fire in four months at a derelict hotel is being investigated as a potential arson.

Humberside Police said it was carrying out extensive inquiries into "a reported arson" following a fire inside the former Balmoral Hotel on Fort Terrace in Bridlington, which was unoccupied.

Emergency services were called at about 21:30 BST on Tuesday to the building, which was the scene of a similar fire in December.

No casualties were reported and nobody was rescued from the property but neighbouring properties had to be evacuated for safety reasons, police said.

News imageAn 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

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said six crews were sent to tackle the blaze, which started on the first floor at the rear of the property before spreading to the upper floors and the roof.

It had been brought under control by the early hours of Wednesday morning, with firefighting efforts scaled down to two fire engines and one aerial platform.

However, a cordon remained in place at the scene and crews will remain there throughout the day to monitor the blaze, the fire service said.

News imageEddy 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.Eddy Chapman/Bridlington Leisure Association
Firefighters were called to the former Balmoral Hotel at about 21:30 BST on Tuesday

Police said a small number of residents were still affected by the cordon and work was ongoing to minimise disruption.

"Extensive enquires remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident", a spokesperson for the force said.

"At this time, we have not received any reports of injuries sustained as a result of the fire, and officers remain in the area conducting lines of inquiry to identify those involved."

Road closures on The Promenade, between Westmoreland Avenue and Princess Terrace, have since been lifted.

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

News imageEddy Chapman/Bridlington Leisure Association A night-time street scene showing a brick multi-storey building with smoke coming from a first-floor window. A fire engine is parked in the foreground with an equipment compartment open and lit, showing hoses and tools inside. A ladder is extended from the fire engine up to a window, from where a firefighter is positioned inside. Streetlights cast a yellow glow on the building façade, and a sign above the entrance reads “Balmoral Hotel". Fire hoses run along the pavement in front of the building.Eddy Chapman/Bridlington Leisure Association
No casualties were reported and nobody was evacuated from the property, the fire service said

The fire service said its investigation to establish the cause of the blaze "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".

Detectives appealed for witnesses and for anyone with information or CCTV footage in the area to contact the force.

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

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.

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