Fire breaks out at Bath hotel hours after it closed to the public

A fire broke out at the Queensbury hotel in Bath only four hours after the property had closed to the public following the new government guidelines to halt the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.



Crews from Bath and Hicks Gate fire stations were mobilised to reports of the fire at the hotel on Sunday (22 March).

On arrival, firefighters found a fire that had started in the ground floor kitchen extractor unit and had spread into the external ducting. Fortunately, the hotel was vacant at the time due to Government guidelines.

Crews used four breathing apparatus for safety, and two high pressure hose reels and one 45mm jet to extinguish the fire.

They also used a turntable ladder to monitor the situation externally, a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots and a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the smoke.

A firefighter returned to the scene later that day to re-inspect the building for safety and used a thermal imaging camera once again to check for hotspots.

In a Twitter post, the owners of the hotel said: “Beginning to wonder why the world hates us so much? First we close because of Covid-19, then four hours after leaving our hotel alone for the first time in 18 years we have an electrical fire!! Life really feels pretty unfair right now!!!”

Another tweet read: “Helen and I would like to say a huge thank you to the Bath, Hicksgate and Portishead Fire Brigades. You guys are incredible, your bravery and kindness towards us this afternoon, words fail me. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!”

Beginning to wonder why the world hates us so much? First we close because of COVID-19, then 4 hours after leaving our hotel alone for the first time in 18 years we have an electrical fire!! Life really feels pretty unfair right now!!! pic.twitter.com/Swdg0EU75G

— The Queensberry (@thequeensberry) March 22, 2020