THE cause of the fire which gutted a former hotel in Bournemouth town centre is being investigated by Dorset Police.

Bournemouth Echo:

Detectives are appealing for information into the fire, which took hold of the former Orchid Gardens Hotel, Gervis Road, on Wednesday night.

Bournemouth Echo:

More than 100 firefighters battled through the night and early hours to bring the blaze at the four-storey building under control.

 

During the height of the drama, 160 guests from the neighbouring Hotel Celebrity and Brittania Hotel had to be moved to safety.

Bournemouth Echo:

No-one was injured in the huge fire, which is now under investigation, but the building remains in a precarious state.

Detective Chief Inspector Gavin House, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Due to scale and severity of the fire, we have been unable to assess the scene with fire investigators to ascertain the cause of the fire and we are not expected to be able to gain access until next week.

“We will be flying a drone over the building today to help with our investigations.

“Detectives from Bournemouth CID are continuing to working closely with Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to investigate the full circumstances of the incident.

“I would appeal to anyone who has any information about the fire to please contact us.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Meanwhile, a Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) spokesman confirmed: "We still don’t have a cause of the fire and we are making regular re-inspections on site to check for any hotspots within the remains of the building.

"One crew were there early this morning and we will be sending another crew back out later this afternoon."

Bournemouth Echo:

Following a fire at the site two years ago, the owner of the neighbouring Hotel Celebrity voiced concerns about the vacant building.

Neighbours say the boarded-up building has been used by squatters and drug dealers in the past.