Published: April 23, 2008
In photos: Huge fire tears through former Highbridge Hotel

A huge fire broke out on Tuesday evening (April 22nd) at the site of the unoccupied, former Highbridge Hotel in the centre of the town.

Fire crews from across Somerset rushed to the scene after initial reports of smoke being spotted - and the blaze was not fully extinguished until after midnight.

Two fire engines from Burnham-On-Sea, one fire engine from Bridgwater and a Control Support Unit from Street were sent to the scene at 9.29pm. [See video here].

Five further fire engines, a turn table ladder and other supporting appliances were also requested and a total of 50 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze with more than six water jets.

The A38, which runs past the property, remained closed on Wednesday morning while emergency services, which included police and paramedics, dealt with the incident. And over 90 homes in the Highbridge area were without power during the incident.

One fire engine and a hydraulic platform were still keeping a watching brief and damping down hot spots on Wednesday morning as the investigations began.

"Access to the building has been difficult due to the fact that the doors and windows are boarded up," said a fire spokesman.

The property was a three-storey, disused building measuring 15 x 20m and the whole building was ablaze. The incident comes three days after a suspicious fire at the same property.