The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have been called to a fire at the derelict Ocean Hotel in Sandown this evening (Saturday).
Multiple fire crews are responding to the incident between the Esplanade and High Street having been alerted at 20:25.
Smoke can be seen billowing into the sky which can be seen from miles around. Several fire crews from various stations around the island are tackling the fire.
The northern side of the building is well alight with flames coming through the roof.
Cordons are being established around the building which was recently sold, as previously reported by Island Echo.
UPDATE @ 20:48 – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Control have said they are making pumps 8 with 2 aerial ladder platforms being requested.
“We are dealing with a ‘make pumps 8, make ALPs 2’ fire on Sandown High Street on the Island.
Article continues below this advertisement “Please avoid the area as we have a lot of appliances tackling the fire.”
Sandown High Street and the Esplanade have both been closed to motorists with further cordons on several surrounding streets. Pedestrians are warned to be careful of hoses running across pavements.
The Broadway remains closed one-way, meaning motorists diverting will have to do so via Perowne Way.
UPDATE @ 21:10 – Onlookers are being cleared from the beach by police officers to allow fire crews a safe space to work.
Southern Vectis bus routes 3 & 8 towards Newport cannot serve the High Street and are unable to divert via The Broadway due to a one-way restriction.
Buses will divert from Morton Common Road via Perowne Way & Fairway to resume the normal route from Lake Fairway. Buses towards Ryde are unaffected.
UPDATE @ 21:20 – Fire appliances from Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde, Newport, Ventnor, East Cowes, and Cowes are now in attendance at the enlarging scene.
Firefighters are currently laying out suction hoses across the beach alongside pumps to draw water from the sea to be used to fight the blaze.
Members of the public are being told to stay away from the area and a cordon is in place affecting pedestrians, with nobody allowed to walk up Sandown High Street from the Avenue Road roundabout.
Residents in and around the area of Sandown may notice a drop in water pressure while the incident is ongoing. Water may seem discoloured for a time as fire hydrants are being utilised to pull water from the mains to fire appliances to dowse the blaze.
UPDATE @ 21:45 – Water is now being pulled from the sea using multiple pumps to keep up with the demand needed to combat the fire.
Isle of Wight Police is asking members of the public who do not need to be in the area to stay away.
“We are currently assisting our colleagues from the fire service who are responding to a fire at a hotel in High Street, Sandown.
“We have had to close a number of roads close to the hotel and we are having to ask some people to evacuate the area while this incident is dealt with.
“Please can we ask that if you do not need to be in the area, you stay away or if you are travelling through here you find an alternate route.”
UPDATE @ 22:00 – A water carrier from Freshwater Fire Station has now arrived at Sandown, to facilitate crews on the ground with keeping up with the demand for water needed to dowse the flames.
UPDATE @ 22:35 – Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams have been tasked to attend the incident upon the request of the police to help provide for crowd control on the beach.
The incident is still ongoing, with roads remaining closed in the area and cordons in place.
Residents are reporting their water is coming out of taps brown, this is common due to the demand in the water needed to extinguish a fire. This change in flow can disturb the sediment in water mains, enabling substances that cause discolouration (like iron and manganese) to get into the water.
This is usually temporary and disappears once the network settles – running your tap for few minutes should clear it.
UPDATE @ 22:57 – Residents in Sandown, especially those close to the incident, are being urged to keep all windows and doors shut as the dangerous smoke from the fire wafts across the town.
Some local residents and businesses have opened their doors to members of the emergency services and are supplying refreshments to those working to control the blaze and make safe the area.
Island Echo understands that Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks engineers are now on their way to the scene to isolate electrical power to the building from the mains.
UPDATE @ 23:45 – Island Roads has arrived at the scene to implement a hard road closure on both Sandown Esplanade and Sandown High Street.
It is unknown how long the hard closure will be in place, but motorists should expect to follow diversions for the time being and into tomorrow morning.
UPDATE SUNDAY @ 00:40 – The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) from South Central Ambulance Service on the mainland has come over to the Island to assist with the incident.
At least 2 fire appliances from Hampshire have also been brought over to the Island to provide essential fire cover for the Isle of Wight while Island-based crews are dealing with the fire.
Droxford Fire Station has confirmed 1 appliance and a crew are currently on the late-night ferry to the Island as part of the response plan.
UPDATE @ 01:00 – HM Coastguard teams are beginning to stand down from the incident, with some fire appliances also beginning to return to their stations as the fire is brought under control – nearly 5 hours after it started.
Road closures are expected to be in place until the morning with diversions and cordons still in place.
Residents are still advised to keep windows and doors closed to prevent any remaining smoke from entering their properties.
Hampshire Constabulary has revealed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing, with anyone who may have any information that could assist officers enquiries asked to contact 101 quoting reference number 44210177386.
I think someone is looking to build some flats.
It was only a matter of time
Coincidence it has new owners and a fire has broken out, just me.
Yes. My husband and I have been thinking the same
So sad. Fond memories of working there 20 years ago
Sandown is becoming a shocker of a place
Such a shame beautiful beaches and cliff walks.
Make Sandown a safe place
Now there’s a surprise. Who would have thought that an empty hotel would suddenly catch fire ….
I’m sure that hotel frontage appeared in the David Essex movie
“That’ll be the day”
Truly shocked that yet another recently purchased, seemingly empty, building in one of our seaside towns has mysteriously caught fire. I am sure, however, that the new owners will want to restore the place to an hotel providing jobs year in, year out and not conveniently throw up second home and hollibobs flats. Also I am sure certain councillors won’t consider the benefits of massive council tax per flat and will unload implore the owners to keep an hotel on sight. Ooh, another flying pig…
I really do feel sorry for the shops that are built into the structure their lively hoods at risk what a selfish act to carry out Lets hope there not too effected what have they done to deserve this Hasn’t the same company also purchased a hotel in Shanklin as well….. lets watch what happens there
We are all thinking the same thing , land is worth a lot more than the building .
If it’s got to stand demand the full clean up and commercial grade site hoarding at the minimum….. Not just there but all other areas the avenue road hole in the ground, the Moritz and Tarvic two hotels and the grand hotel……. Do we need to lose lives before someone acts, Sandown residents are sick of this neglect suffering land banking business we demand more from our island council, your voted in now do your job……..
For the love of god, someone needs to save that building. Still the most beautiful building in Sandown.