Hotel destroyed by fire
Jan, 09 2007 - 10:20 AM

A building being described as a Southern Alberta landmark has been destroyed by fire. it happened around 7 45 last nite in the hamlet of Shaughnessy - just north of Lethbridge.
Staffers and patrons of the Shaughnessy Hotel were evacuated after someone reported the building was on fire. The hotel has been wiped out despite hard work by fire departments from Picture Butte, Nobleford and Coaldale.

One man was taken to hospital in Lethbridge with injuries. No word yet on the cause or the damage total

Sprinklers Douse Flames At Embassy Suites - San Luis Obispo Fire Department
January 9, 2007

California - A fire in a clothes dryer at the Embassy Suites Hotel early Monday was caused by overheating of the unit, firefighters determined. The fire activated an overhead sprinkler system that kept the fire from spreading, said Battalion Chief Tom Zeulner of the San Luis Obispo Fire Department.
Guests left the hotel just after 1 a.m. after fire alarms and remained in the parking lot until the fire was out.

Historic Hotel Destroyed By Fire,Canada
January 10, 2007

Residents of a hamlet 20 km north of Lethbridge are mourning the loss of a historic landmark after a structure fire engulfed the Shaughnessy Hotel Monday night. The hotel, which has stood in Shaughnessy since 1930, was completely destroyed in the blaze. Robyn Singleton, manager of the County of Lethbridge, said the loss of the hotel is a blow to the tiny community, located 200 km south of Calgary.

“It was the last operating rural hotel in the county,” said Singleton.

“It’s considered a historic building and there was some desire to see it preserved as it was, but that won’t be happening.”

Compounding the loss, added Singleton, is that the hotel is “one last touch of the past” for Shaughnessy, which was once a thriving coal mining community.

The fire was first noticed at 7:45 p.m. by a passerby who alerted hotel staff, patrons and residents to evacuate.

THREE people were forced to flee from a hotel after a huge blaze broke out.

It took 40 fire fighters three hours to put out the blaze at The Bridge House Hotel in High Street, St Neots.

Elsewhere on a busy night for the emergency services there were floods in Barford Road, St Neots; Hatton's Road, Longstanton and Rogues Lane in Papworth Everard.

Fire crews were called to the hotel at 3.41am today (Wednesday, 10 January) and found the boat house, which is part of the main hotel at the rear of the building, well alight.

The fire had broken through into the main hotel and spread to the ground and first floors. The rest of the building has been badly smoke damaged.

The hotel was closed for renovation and three people escaped unhurt before fire crews arrived.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze. Dave Richardson, divisional officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue service, was at the scene.

He said: "There was significant heat and fire damage and extensive smoke damage to the building.

"If it wasn't for the swift action of the two St Neots fire appliances preventing the fire from travelling through the ground floor then, with an old building of this design, we would likely have lost a significant part of the building.

"The boat house part of the building on the lower ground floor and the ground floor bar area of the hotel have been badly affected.

"We have done a preliminary fire investigation and we will now be conducting a full investigation."

Six fire engines were called to the scene, from Huntingdon, Gamlingay and Papworth, as well as St Neots.

There were also two support vehicles from Huntingdon and March.