Man critical after blaze at hotel

This picture of the fire was captured by reader Martin Moyse

A 45-year-old man is critically ill and three others are feared missing after a large fire at a disused hotel.

Eighty firefighters dealt with the blaze at the Grange Hotel, Rhyl, which was reported at 2145 GMT and took four hours to bring under control.

North Wales Fire Service could not confirm if anyone else had been inside because of the severity of the fire and the building's unsafe condition.

A firefighter from Prestatyn was also treated for superficial burns.

Fire crews from Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele, Denbigh and Colwyn Bay using 12 fire engines were sent to the scene on East Parade.

Efforts to dampen down the fire continued through the night and into Wednesday morning.

The three-storey building had received 100% fire damage and was "structurally unsafe", according to the fire service.

It said the man had been rescued from the property shortly after 2300 GMT and had been taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital by ambulance.

When firefighters arrived at the former hotel, they had found one side already well-alight but went in to carry out a search.

They found one man who is believed to have suffered smoke inhalation.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Ennes said: "He was at the rear of the building, early indications let us know that it was on the first floor when we dragged him out.

The building might even be pulled down, that will take some time and that's obviously quite a complex operation for the fire service. Supt Nick Snape

"However, whether he was alone or not we do not have that information at the moment."

It is understood the man had indicated there had been three other people in the disused hotel with him.

But information the man gave to firefighters about other casualties could not be relied upon, said Mr Ennes, because of the state he was in when rescued.

Firefighters were forced to abandon their search, as Mr Ennes explained: "Part of our the building was collapsing on our fire crews and... we had an emergency where we had to evacuate the building."

The 28-bedroom hotel, which is boarded up, is believed to have closed last year and a sign outside indicates it is for sale.

Since its closure, it is understood there have been problems with people breaking in and squatting there.

An investigation into the cause of the fire and a thorough search of the building has been launched by North Wales Fire Service and North Wales Police.

But Supt Nick Snape, of North Wales Police, said it could be some time before it can be established whether anyone had been killed in the fire.

He said: "First of all, they'll make a structural assessment... the building might even be pulled down, that will take some time and that's obviously quite a complex operation for the fire service.

"When they make it safe then we will go in, our detectives, investigators will go in with the fire investigators and commence the full investigation and search and of course the search will have to be methodical and very careful because we're looking to see if there's anybody else in there."

On Wednesday morning firefighters were seen making visual checks above the building from a cherry picker.

Part of the promenade near the Rhyl Sun Centre remained cordoned off.