Neighbours' shock after being evacuated as fire rips through Cleethorpes guest house

NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after being evacuated from their homes when a fire swept through a Cleethorpes guest house.

As reported on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk over the weekend, four fire crews were called to the blaze in Bursar Street at just after midnight on Saturday morning.

Seven people were evacuated from the School View Accommodation guest house as flames spread through the building – while several neighbours were also asked to leave their homes.

No injuries were reported.

But one couple, who live next door, told of their fear after seeing smoke coming through the loft of their home.

Steve Topham, group manager at Humberside Fire and Rescue described the fire as "devastating".

He said it started on the ground floor of the property and spread to the first floor, but was quickly brought under control.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the building for several hours.

The guest house was closed as scenes of crime officers searched the property for clues.

Five of the occupants were put up by a neighbouring guest house at Isaacs Hill.

Claire Elsby, 38, who lives next door to the guest house, and her three children, were among those evacuated. She said: "We heard the commotion so I came out to look and saw the fire. I just got the kids out and went to my mother's. You can smell the smoke in the house but it's not too bad."

Neighbours Shaun and Zoe Freer evacuated their one-year-old son Harley after noticing smoke building up in the landing.

Zoe, 23, said: "We were sat in the living room when we heard shouting outside. We stood on the front for a little bit and my husband noticed the smoke coming through our loft. We had to get our little boy out."

Shaun, 27, said: "Before the fire brigade arrived I had gone down the side of Frederick Street and you could see through the middle window the blaze against the glass. It was cracking and popping.

"It's the first major thing that's happened to us since having our son. It was scary."

Daniel Johnstone, 26, who lives opposite the guest house, was in his back garden when he noticed the blue flashing lights of the fire engines, said: "I didn't see any flames but there was a lot of smoke. The firemen went in and came out, the smoke stopped and then it started again.

"By the time we went to bed the smoke had stopped and the ambulance had disappeared. They didn't take anyone with them."

Diane Griffith, owner of the The Osborne guest house on Isaacs Hill, offered five of the men who were evacuated a place to stay for the night.

She said: "My fire alarm went off and I could smell smoke so obviously it was a bit of a panic. Then somebody said there were fire engines down Bursar Street.

"I have got a house down there so I went down to investigate and saw the guest house on fire. My tenants were not in but the smoke was coming in through the hatch so the fire must have been pretty intense.

"It seemed to go on for a long time.

"I know that the five people from the property were displaced so I offered them accommodation for the night. They were pretty shaken but I guess you would be if you had been woken up by a fire in the middle of the night."

The owner of School View Accommodation said he did not wish to comment.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Keep checking our website for updates.

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