BBC Local Live: Devon & Cornwall on Friday 28 October 2016

Summary

Exeter blaze declared 'major incident' by fire service
The Royal Clarence Hotel - reported to be the first hotel in England - is destroyed by fire
Gold Command declared as fire crews continue to tackle blaze
Appeal to key holders in Cathedral Green to come forward as emergency services fear fire might spread
Fire crews send team to get water from River Exe
South West Water asks city residents to restrict their water use
Fire initially started in a gallery at 05:20 near Exeter Cathedral
'About 110 firefighters' are at the scene and a cordon has been set up
Firefighters from Dorset to help Devon crews
Roads are closed across the city
Updates on Friday 28 October 2016

Live Reporting

Medieval past of fire-ravaged Exeter's Royal Clarence Hotelpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Destruction of the fire-ravaged Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter would be a great tragedy because of its medieval past says a historian.
Media caption,
Medieval past behind fire-ravaged hotel
Dr Todd Gray said the creamy-white facade of what is one of England's oldest hotels, belies an ancient and fascinating history.
The fire is believed to have started at an art gallery which faces Exeter Cathedral but spread to the hotel.
Historian said fire-hit Royal Clarence Hotel was once visited by Beatrix Potterpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Claire Jones
BBC News Online
Historian Dr Todd Gray said Beatrix Potter visited the hotel in 1892, looked out and said "what a fine view this is".
"It was the place to be. It was where the anti slavery people met in the 1700s and 1800s, this is where they planned abolition.
"It had a murkier past later on and it was where the fascists met in the 1930s. It’s a key building for Exeter," he said.
Image source, Getty Images
Dr Gray said the hotel was also the first to declare themselves as a hotel before that they had inns.
Fire crews send team to get water from River Exepublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
Firefighters tackling the major blaze in Exeter city centre have sent a team to take water from the River Exe to help their work.
They they say it's a contingency measure.
'Horrified' - minister reacts to Exeter firepublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
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Lady Neville-Rolfe is a minister in the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
At the scene of the Exeter fire: 'The Clarence is in a terrible shape'published at 15:32 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Kirk England
BBC Radio Devon
"I can only see half of the hotel, it is covered in smoke. It is very much an active situation. The Clarence is in a terrible shape.
"It's all happening here. I've never seen anything like this, on this scale. Often things are brought under control early with a fire. Despite the best efforts of the fire service this fire has spread, and now there is concern it could go to others.
"Roads are closed, businesses are affected."
Exeter fire: 'Fear it's taken out two buildings, it could take out more'published at 15:22 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Kirk England
BBC Radio Devon
The worry is the fire has already taken out two buildings and it could destroy more.
This is a major operation, an active fire in the centre of the city.
It seems fire crews are throwing everything at it.
Exeter blaze: Fire and police chiefs return from leave to deal with major incidentpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
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Gallery where fire started 'completely destroyed'published at 15:11 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Breaking
Kirk England
BBC Radio Devon
The fire in Exeter started early this morning at the Castle Fine Art gallery and then spread to the Royal Clarence Hotel.
Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell says the gallery is "completely destroyed".
"It's a very serious fire," he added.
Exeter fire: City residents asked to 'minimise water use'published at 15:06 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
BBC Radio Devon
South West Water says customers in Exeter city centre may experience low pressure or even no water at all due to the fire.
Jason Harvey from the firm is asking customers in the city to minimise their water use.
He said drinking water was fine but he asked residents to avoid using washing machines or taking a bath.
The firm said it would isolate the city's hospital to maintain supplies to it.
Exeter fire: 'Massive operation' - police chiefpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter
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Guest staying at Royal Clarence Hotel 'woke to flames through the window'published at 14:57 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
BBC Radio Devon
Hotel guest Lucy from Australia told BBC Radio Devon: "I was woken up by the fire alarm at 05:00.
"Someone was banging on the door and all I could see were orange flames through the window.
"I grabbed my passport, there was a lot of fiery ash falling down."
Exeter high street still cordoned off in the city centrepublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter
Parts of facade crumbles in major firepublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
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Exeter City Council asks property owners in Cathedral Green to get in touchpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Claire Jones
BBC News Online
Exeter City Council has asked people with a property in the area of the Exeter fire to get in touch.
A tweet from the council is asking property owners for contact information.
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'Disaster for Exeter'published at 14:38 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
James Vickery
BBC Radio Devon
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Press Association: What we know so far about the fire in Cathedral Greenpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Press Association
"It is not known at this time where or how the fire started or how many properties have been affected. No injuries are reported," a spokesman said. Devon and Cornwall Police said road closures were in place around the city centre.
"It is hoped to open High Street to pedestrians and public transport as soon as possible, but this is dependent on the fire service safely completing its activities at the scene of the fire on Cathedral Green," a force spokesman said.
"It is likely that Cathedral Green will remain cordoned off and not accessible to the public for some time. "It is not known at this time how the fire started. No injuries are reported."
Image source, @abs_cat
The Royal Clarence Hotel has stood on the same spot for 300 years and is reported to be the oldest hotel in England.
The 17th century coaching inn, which is now called the Abode Hotel, is part of the Andrew Brownsword group.
A hotel spokeswoman said: "Following the morning's fire, all our guests are staff were evacuated and all are safe and accounted for."
Messages flood in as massive fire takes hold in Exeterpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
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'Stay away from fire' plea from councilpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
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Residents and businesses talk of "scary feeling" and "sadness" about the effects of the Exeter firepublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Claire Jones
BBC News Online
Resident Chloe Mortar said: "They were concerned about the ash. At about 7ish they said we were safe to go back inside which was a bit of a relief.
"It was a very scary feeling that it could always go up in flames."
Mariam Badavi, owner of Purity Boutique Spa, said: "I am really sad, the buildings are so old. It's good to hear no one has been hurt.
"It's sad, it really is. These buildings are some of the oldest buildings in Exeter."
Fire may affect water pressure in Exeterpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
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