Huge fire at derelict hotel in Newquay | News

Hotel California is closed as of 2021

Fire crews battled a large blaze at a derelict hotel in Newquay.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue say they were called to the California Hotel in Pentire Crescent shortly before 4pm on Sunday, June 30.

A caller reported smoke coming from the windows of the three-story building and 12 breathing apparatus, six jets and one drum jet were dispatched.

Due to the dangerous nature of the building, with a collapsed roof and missing boards, crews were fighting the fire from the outside.

St Dennis Community Fire Station reported at 7.24am that “good progress” was being made in fighting the blaze, and by 8.49pm Cornwall Fire and Rescue confirmed the building was “well alight”.

“Obsolete and dilapidated”

The California Hotel closed in November 2021 and an application was submitted to Cornwall Council the following year to demolish the building and replace it with 20 apartments and four semi-detached houses.

At the time, the application described the hotel as “outdated and in a state of disrepair”.

Planning permission was granted by the council and demolition work was due to start next month, with construction work expected to start by the end of this year.

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