A fire has broken out at the derelict Grand Hotel in Sandown this evening (Sunday).
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is on scene with 2 appliances from Sandown and Shanklin.
Firefighters are currently working to dowse the flames, which can be seen bursting out of the windows of a former apartment block to the rear of the main hotel.
2 breathing apparatus sets and 2 hose reels are being utilised to bring the fire under control.
It’s thought members of the public at the neighbouring Browns golf alerted the fire service to the developing situation, with the sight of orange flames and smoke evident along Culver Parade.
The incident mirrors that of a fire at the same location in late 2021 – and it appears to be suspicious in nature, given that the site is derelict.
The road remains open at this time.
UPDATE @ 18:36 – A total of 4 appliances and the Incident Command Unit are now in attendance, with Police also present.
Crews are continuing to tackle the fire and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the building.
UPDATE @ 19:55 – A total of 24 firefighters from Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde and Newport have been involved in tonight’s incident, with a total of 4 appliances and an Incident Command Unit mobilised.
The fire is now under control and the roof space is being checked.
UPDATE @ 21:30 – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has now stood down from the incident.
It has been confirmed that the fire started in an annexe of the hotel and grew to 32m x 16m. Crews used 10 BA, 1 hose reel and 1 jet to extinguish the fire.
Station Manager Simon Packer has said:
“Sandown and Shanklin crews were first in attendance and were confronted with a well developed fire in a disused outbuilding.
“Hard work by all of our attending crews quickly brought the fire under control.
“Crews were detained for some time damping down. Our thanks goes to Isle of Wight Police for their assistance at the incident”.
Police have been informed and attended the incident.
Wait for the planning permission for new homes to go in. It never takes long! So many fires break out in these places for no apparent reason !! Funny that. !
Just let it burn to the ground – would look better than the current state it’s in.
That is EXACT:LY what the developers and council WANT the gulible public to feel. Then they can gain building permission on the grounds of health and safety and an eyesore ruining the tourist trade.
A ploy to get what they want with less public outcry. DON’T fall for it.
https://www.isleofwight.com/webcams/sandown/
emergency services in attendance.
Someone is really determined to raze this to the ground; and firefighters have to take all kinds of risks to try and save it.
This was a block of flats waiting to happen
Not as embarrassing as your spelling , letting you know .
“raze” = to shave, ie to level (to the ground).
“raise” = to lift above (ground level) – not quite appropriate in this case?
No surprise there then. Hope all the animals at the zoo are ok.
I am sure that they are fine, sandham house is much further along.
Can I just say, Sandown has the most wonderful sea front and all these wrecks of hotels are destroying the economy of what could be a fab place! Let’s kick arse and get this place back on the map and get rid of all the arsehole developers – thank you over and out !!!!!!!
Just waiting for someone to have another go at The Ocean Hotel.
Say no more I’ll do it on weekend
Wow. Really ?! Another one ?! Gotta be some kind of record that.
Fences around it… walked past at 3pm and i could smell something i just thought it was me.
Fricking kids probably and will get get away with it #isleofwight&hampshirepolice do something about it
Nice how you all have an opinion but not in your own names.
about time all these decrepit buildings are torn down makes the whole holiday experience an eye sore island is already a old tired looing dump
Whoever started this fire, obviously thinks it’s fun!!! Perhaps they wouldn’t find it so funny if they had to pay the cost of all these firemen and their equipment attending a derelict ‘arson’ attack. Let’s not be in any doubt, this is arson, which is a lengthy prison sentence if the idiot who started it is found!!!!! The island needs CCTV.