Uplands Park Hotel collapses as major fire rips through abandoned building in Droxford

About 30 firefighters from across the area were scrambled to the Uplands Park Hotel site, in Droxford, just before 5am.

The abandoned building, in Garrison Hill, was completely engulfed by flames and there were fears that squatters could have been trapped inside.

However, the inferno was so intense it caused a partial collapse of the building meaning it was too dangerous for crews to enter and search the hotel.

Teams from six fire stations, including Fareham, Bishops Waltham, Droxford, Wickham and Botley, plus a support crew from Portchester, were among those mobilised to the dramatic blaze.

Matthew Farr, watch manager at Fareham fire station, said: ‘The building was well alight when we arrived. It had already partially collapsed.

‘All we could do was to put water on it externally because it was quite a dangerous structure.

‘It turned out there was no-one in there as far as we could see. But where the building is known for squatters we were concerned there could be people in there.’

Fire crews used two water jets to prevent the fire from escalating.

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.

Since the sale the site has lain dormant and has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour, attracting vandals, teenagers and squatters who have smashed windows and scrawled graffiti on walls.

There have been several failed attempts since 2012 to convert the building, which is now thought to be too badly damaged to be saved.

The cause of this morning’s blaze is not yet known.

A team of specialist investigators from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are expected to be sifting through the debris later today to work out how the blaze ignited.

Firefighters from three crews are still at the scene monitoring the site.

They are expected to be there for much of the morning.

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