09 May 2013
An investigation has been launched into the cause of a huge fire that led to extensive damage at a hotel in Devon.
The blaze at the Teign Valley Golf Club and Hotel was tackled by about 30 firefighters who took several hours to extinguish the fire.
Members of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service reportedly used water from a nearby lake to get on top of the blaze which destroyed the roof of the hotel in the Bovey Tracey area.
Fire service spokesman John Chalk said that the hotel had been successfully evacuated and there were no reports of injuries, but admitted it had been a difficult challenge for firefighters.
He said: “There were solar panels on the roof which meant in effect we still had a live supply of electricity to the building, so we weren’t able to get into the building. It meant the fire developed much more rapidly than we would have liked.”
The investigations into the cause of the fire are focusing on the roof where smoke was initially seen.
Copyright Press Association 2013