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image credit: East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
youtube:video credit: Cliff Eli Lickley
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to keep doors and windows closed and avoid the area as firefighters tackle a serious fire.
update 5:38pm: Crews remain at the scene of a fire at the Claremont hotel in Eastbourne.
The fire started in the basement in the seafront hotel just before 0900 this morning (22 November 2019).
SECamb have confirmed six patients were treated for minor injuries with one taken to Eastbourne hospital with breathing problems.
Everyone has been accounted for.
Neighbouring buildings have been evacuated and road closures remain in place as of 1700.
Utility companies are in attendance and power supplies are being isolated.
Building control are assessing the damage to the building and providing information to the fire and rescue service.
A rest centre has been set up by Eastbourne Borough Council at the Town Hall.
Incident Commander Doug Marshall said:
“We have downscaled our resources with four fire engines and one aerial ladder platform at the scene.
We will keep crews here throughout the night.
We are working with a number of other organisations including Eastbourne Borough Council, Highways, utility companies, Sussex Police and SECamb.
We would ask that the public remain patient with us as we work to bring this incident to a close.”
Multi-agency briefings are taking place and we would like to thank Eastbourne Pier for providing us with a location to meet. The Service would also like to recognise all those who have provided refreshments and other support to us.
update 12:18pm East Sussex Fire and Rescue: Steady progress is being made at the #Claremont hotel fire in #Eastbourne – please continue to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed. Twelve fire engines are on the scene along with several officers, aerial ladder platforms and command support units. We have also sent a high volume pump and a specialist fire-fighting foam vehicle from Newhaven.
The fire started in a basement of the Claremont Hotel on the seafront in Eastbourne
There are no reports of injuries and everyone was safely evacuated from the hotel.
Advice about smoke
Advice from Public Health England (PHE) recognises that smoke can irritate air passages, the skin and the eyes, leading to coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain.
It can also aggravate asthma, and, in some cases, the acrid smell and air pollution can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness.
PHE usually advises people in areas affected by the smoke to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed, and check media, social media, local radio and TV stations for advice and information.
In simple terms:
stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed
avoid areas affected by any smoke or ash
limit the time spent in them
In general, exposure to smoke is more likely to affect people who have existing breathing problems, lung or heart conditions. The very young and very old, smokers and people with flu or flu-like illnesses may also be at greater risk after exposure to smoke from fires.
To minimise your exposure, limit the amount of time you spend outside in the smoke.
