Fire causes evacuation of sleeping hotel guests

10:43am Friday 9th May 2008

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GUESTS have had to be evacuated from a South Lakeland hotel after a fire broke out this morning.

A small fire started in the laundry of the Hillthwaite House Hotel, in Thornbarrow Road, Windermere, at around 5.15am today.

The blaze took hold in a plastic bin containing towels and cleaning cloths.

Staff were alerted when the fire alarm sounded, and all guests were evacuated.

Managers at the hotel confirmed that there were 18 rooms let last night and said the evacuation went smoothly.

John Fisher said: "We had about 18 rooms let last night, they were evacuated and we counted them. Then we got them back in and gave them tea and coffee. Everyone has been really cool about it, they were laughing and joking about it this morning.

"I can only commend our staff that were on duty and our live-in staff."

Mr Fisher said that it was the first time they have had a fire like this at the hotel and was glad the alarms were working.

"It could have been worse if the fire alarm hadn't gone off," he said.

Two appliances from Windermere Fire Station attended the blaze, and stayed on site for 45 minutes.

Steve Sharrock, station manager at Kendal Fire Station, said a discarded cigarette may have caused the fire but investigations were continuing.