Electrical fault suspected of causing Dartmouth fire

An electrical fault probably caused a fire which destroyed Dartmouth's historic Tudor centre.

Eight businesses and up to 15 flats in the Devon port were destroyed or severely damaged in the fire on Friday. Among the buildings destroyed in Fairfax Place were 16th Century Tudor buildings with English Heritage Grade I and Grade II listed status.


It is possible some of the buildings may have to be demolished, while others could take six months or more to rebuild or refurbish. Commenting on the impact of the fire, English Heritage said the immediate priority was safety and establishing the structural integrity of the buildings. English Heritage will work with the local authority to help to assess the damage to the original fabric of the buildings and begin the process of identifying what can and cannot be salvaged from the fire.

Fire Crews work to save Ruth Rendell's archive

Cornwal's fire service says that work has been carried out to preserve the archive of a local historian who died in a fire at her home.

The body of Joan Rendell MBE, 89, was found after her bungalow at Yeolmbridge caught fire . She was an avid collector of matchboxes and had an estimated collection of 300,000. The manager of Bodmin Fire Station said that work began quickly to preserve her archive material.

For more information, go to:
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8661860.stm

Body found after fire in Harrogate's Majestic Hotel

A body has been found after a fire ripped through a listed Victorian Hotel in Harrogate, police have said.

The identity of the body was found in the fifth floor staff quarters of the hotel. All 132 guests at the hotel in Ripon Road had earlier been led to safety along with 25 staff members, after the fire broke out early on Wednesday. One male member of staff had been described 'unaccounted for'.
The fire has been described by police as 'potentially suspicious'

For more information go to:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/8661583.stm

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