GUESTS at a hotel in York were evacuated from the building after a fire broke out in the kitchen.
A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said that around 40 guests at the Elmbank Hotel in Driffield Terrace, off The Mount, were forced to wait outside the building for about an hour while crews from Tadcaster and Acomb, York, extinguished the blaze.
Sub Officer Bob Hoskins, based in Tadcaster, said the blaze started in a toaster in the kitchen at about 6.30am, and although fire damage was limited, smoke damage was severe in the kitchen.
He said: "We had to spend time ventilating the building because the smoke had spread to the corridors.
"The guests were unfortunately stood outside for about an hour, then they were led back into the lounge area.
"Slowly, corridor by corridor we let residents get back into their bedrooms. We were there for about two hours in all."
Updated: 12:07 Monday, January 27, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article