Penhallow Hotel Disaster
Encyclopedia
The Penhallow Hotel was situated on Island Crescent in the surfing town of Newquay
, Cornwall
, United Kingdom. It was a well-known hotel for holiday makers ranging from families to older residents. The hotel was a typical 1960s building with a wooden fire escape at the rear, and a central light shaft running from the ground floor up to the roof in the centre of the hotel. Both of these aspects of the building played a dramatic role in the outcome of the fire. The Penhallow Hotel Fire was reported as the "Worst Hotel Fire in 40 Years".
Over 80 guests and members of staff managed to escape, but three people were killed and five others injured. Guest Peter Hughes (a science teacher aged 43 from Staffordshire
) died as a result of falling from a second floor window. Mr Hughes' mother Monica (aged 86) also died in the blaze, along with 80-year-old Joan Harper, who was also from Staffordshire.
In January 2008 police announced that the fire was being treated as suspicious, and that the deaths were now therefore potential cases of murder.
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom. It was a well-known hotel for holiday makers ranging from families to older residents. The hotel was a typical 1960s building with a wooden fire escape at the rear, and a central light shaft running from the ground floor up to the roof in the centre of the hotel. Both of these aspects of the building played a dramatic role in the outcome of the fire. The Penhallow Hotel Fire was reported as the "Worst Hotel Fire in 40 Years".
The Fire
On the night of 18 August 2007 shortly after midnight a power cut was reported followed shortly by the fire alarm activating and soon smoke was seen in the building. A 999 call was made to Cornwall Fire Brigade's fire control at 00:17 and appliances from Newquay were mobilised. Around 4 minutes later when the first crews arrived on scene it was reported that the building was well alight and further crews were requested.Over 80 guests and members of staff managed to escape, but three people were killed and five others injured. Guest Peter Hughes (a science teacher aged 43 from Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
) died as a result of falling from a second floor window. Mr Hughes' mother Monica (aged 86) also died in the blaze, along with 80-year-old Joan Harper, who was also from Staffordshire.
In January 2008 police announced that the fire was being treated as suspicious, and that the deaths were now therefore potential cases of murder.