Firefighters have been mobilised to the derelict Grand Hotel in Sandown this afternoon (Sunday).
Smoke can be seen billowing from the rear of the once popular hotel, situated on Culver Parade next to the Isle of Wight Zoo.
4 appliances from Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin are on scene having been alerted to the fire at around 16:15.
The hotel has empty for a number of years, but it’s understood to still be protected by security systems.
UPDATE @ 16:40 – The fire appears to have been swiftly contained and extinguished, with 2 breathing apparatus wearers now going into the building to conduct further checks.
2 hose reels, a main jet and safety jets have been run up the side of the derelict property on the southern side, with the first appliance on scene – Sandown – successfully dowsing the flames
The Incident Command Unit from Newport is now also on scene, acting as the command and control post for the incident.
Culver Parade has been closed in both directions to all traffic. Police are enforcing the closure.
UPDATE – The incident has been brought to a close and Culver Parade has re-opened to traffic.
Around 80% damage has been sustained to a single-storey building.
It’s understood the incident is being treated as suspicious.
What is it, with fires, and sandown hotels ?
Developer’s
Simple
Ever thought about insurance?
Wonder why these fire always in Sandown area ?
This smells of an insurance job… hope there is an investigation into this one. Isn’t the council pushing for luxury flats here, and the hotel owner won’t budge on selling up????
Spot on Sir D.
The developer lined up I am sure would have been tickled pink should this have burnt to the ground and become unsafe, thus speeding and securing the ‘development’ on the grounds of health and safety and the unsightly burnt out shell, IF this had taken hold.
Lucky the weather is so wet.
Yes it does have a whiff of. But fact check I think you will find its our “beloved but somewhat corrupt Council who will not allow the owner the number of flats they put in for!
Ah, so once the owner is forced to sell up, and the council will buy it cheap…. then rake it in with council tax…. corruption on a Grand Scale.
I heard the owner wants to get planning permission, for the site of the Grand Hotel and the York Hotel in Ryde. The council are saying no and have told the owner he has to renovate the hotel and also the York Hotel, Ryde, which is listed. It would appear they are being left to deteriorate, I wonder why? The same owner owned the building near Sandown Library, which was to accommodate staff working at the Sandringham Hotel, which he owns, this caught fire and left to deteriorate, the building has now been demolished.
What a shame, the firefighters got there too soon. This building is an embarrassment.
PRIME development site!
Soon be apartments there
Should knock it down and extend the zoo. Much more beneficial than building more luxurious second homes.
Extend the animal prison…. No thanks.
Not a chance…it’s all about the money
Well of course fires were going to be lit in there. Either kids or an insurance scam!!!!!????
Or nere do wells paid to do such by those with vested interests. The executioners face is always well hidden.
Does make me laugh whenever a commercial building catches fire its”an insurance job” not saying it isn’t or it couldn’t be but ..eveytime ! Really … and now you’ve got idiots suggesting its the council firing them up ..pahahahaha..yeh ok
i think it is a proven fact that empty buildings with the power cut off don’t generally burst into spontaneous combustion.
I’m pretty sure the firefighters know how and where the fire started. Perhaps some local journalist could ask the question?
Now who would ever have guessed this would happen, still they would have had plenty of insurance.
Yet another hotel goes up in flames…how strange??