Fire at which caused Uplands Park Hotel to collapse was 'not suspicious' investigators conclude

A BLAZE which gutted an abandoned hotel and caused it to collapse has been deemed not suspicious.

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Investigators from Hampshire Fire and Rescue have concluded their probe into the inferno which destroyed Uplands Park Hotel on October 17.

The incident took place in the early hours of the morning at the Garrison Hill site in Droxford.

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It sparked a huge response from the fire service, with more than 30 officers from across the area in attendance.

Now a spokeswoman from fire brigade has said: ‘The cause is deemed not to be suspicious and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service won’t be investigating any further.’

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As previously reported, crews from Wickham, Fareham, Bishop’s Waltham, Droxford, Botley and Portchester were scrambled to tackle the fire.

The building was fully ablaze when officers arrived at the scene and part of the hotel had collapsed.

The fire at the Uplands Park Hotel, in Droxford, earlier this month. Photo: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.The fire at the Uplands Park Hotel, in Droxford, earlier this month. Photo: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The fire at the Uplands Park Hotel, in Droxford, earlier this month. Photo: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
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The site is a notorious hideout for squatters and there were fears that people could be trapped inside the blazing building.

However, nobody was found inside and no-one was reported to have been injured.

Officers used jets to stop the fire from escalating.

The blaze was the latest in a string of fires to have hit Uplands Park Hotel.

The site was previously targeted in 2018 when a fire engulfed the first floor and roof.

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Originally built in the 1930s the hotel closed its doors in 2012 and the entire 7.54 acre site was sold to private developer Eider Developments for an undisclosed sum.

The site has been abandoned since then and has become a hotspot for teen break-ins and vandalism, with yobs smashing windows and scrawling graffiti on the walls.

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