Hampshire Constabulary is working alongside Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to establish the exact circumstances of yesterday’s fire at the derelict Parkbury Hotel in Sandown.
As first reported by Island Echo, several fire crews were mobilised to The Broadway at just gone 19:00 when smoke was seen coming from the roof space of the former hotel.
6 pumping appliances from Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde, Newport, East Cowes, Cowes and Freshwater, an Aerial Ladder Platform from Newport and the Incident Command Unit from Newport were all mobilised to the incident, alongside the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and Police.
Firefighters from the mainland were drafted in to maintain fire cover across the Island.
The situation was swiftly brought under control, saving the building from destruction. Crews used main jets, hose reel jets and breathing apparatus to contain the blaze to the ground and 1st floors.
Suspicions have been raised about the cause of the fire – the latest in a series of fires within derelict buildings in The Bay area. However, Police say it is too early to declare whether the incident is being treated as arson.
Officers are conducting enquiries, including looking at CCTV from the nearby Bay CE School on Grove Road.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has told Island Echo:
“We are working closely with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to ascertain the exact circumstances leading up to the incident. However, we are in the very early stages of our enquires, so cannot confirm if it is suspicious or not at this time.
“No arrests have been made”.
Don’t miss another story! Get the Island’s latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
I know the answer already NOT ARSON need to actually see the person with the match lighting the paper on CCTV. Look what happened in the Ventnor fire people reported rubbish being piled up in the middle of the building days before reports of people going into the site minutes later it’s on fire what was the result NOT ARSON
We all know how this will end up, yes it is arson, no it’s not arson. Ventnor Gaiety WAS arson with so much evidence that you wouldn’t need “Colombo” to investigate it. This will go the same way. Once the council step in to “hush” and “brush” the right palms with brown envelopes. There will be more I suspect too.
What possible interest do the council have in having this declared as not Arson?
Because they stepped in over the Gaiety fire, common knowledge in town, info from a high up police officer.
must have been the fairies again
Obviously it’s arson, abandoned buildings don’t just set themselves on fire
They do on the island look what happened down Ventnor rubbish piled up days before people seen entering minutes before the fire black car seen speeding away after…….. NOT ARSON just another self igniting derelict building.
Clearly climate change, STILL owning a petrol/diesel car in CURRENT YEAR and COVID are to blame
You all seem to know what happened so I might aswell jump on the bandwagon . I blame Boris!!!
If you have a news story that you think we should know about, then get in touch.
You can also now send us Anonymous Tip-Offs.
Island Echo is a member of the Independent Community News Network and the Society of Editors.