Newquay hotel fire extinguished after mass response

Fire crews have finished tackling a blaze at a derelict hotel in Newquay.

More than 80 firefighters from across Cornwall were called to the Hotel California, on Pentire Crescent, just before 17:00 BST on Sunday, emergency services said.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said on Monday afternoon that all appliances had left the incident and the scene had been handed over to Devon and Cornwall Police and the building owners.

Newquay resident Gillian Barrie called 999 when she saw smoke as she was walking her dog and said it was "a proper inferno".

Newquay resident Gillian Barrie called 999 when she saw smoke

She said: "It was scary watching the smoke building up.

"It took a good half-an-hour before we saw the flames and then it was a proper inferno inside."

She said she heard "bangs and glass smashing inside" and it was "really sad" watching the front of the hotel collapse.

Gillian Barrie said she heard "bangs and glass smashing" inside the hotel

On Sunday, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said "multiple resources" were deployed to the "significant fire" at the "large derelict building".

The hotel has been derelict since it closed in 2021.

Suzanne and Peter Hargrave attending firefighters "were absolutely superb"

Local residents Suzanne and Peter Hargrave praised the emergency services response to the fire as "phenomenal".

Ms Hargrave said: "It was very traumatising as we live quite close and, with the wind, you never know where the flames may go.

"The firefighters were absolutely superb. They were phenomenal and really, really impressive."

Mr Hargrave added: "I was really concerned that the fire may catch on to adjacent properties, but, luckily, that wasn't the case.

"It once had the best view in Cornwall for a beer, but, sadly, now that is all gone."

Smoke could be seen across the town

Devon and Cornwall Police closed the roads across Pentire when the fire broke out and told the public to stay away from the area.

They also advised residents to close their windows due to the smoke.

The cause has yet to be determined.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said it had multiple resources at the site