A fire has destroyed the abandoned Lundin Links Hotel in Fife, after a 17-hour fight to tackle the blaze.
Eight crews worked to extinguish the blaze at its peak, which was reported just after 8.30pm on Thursday.
Nobody was injured but the empty hotel has suffered extensive damage, including a collapsed roof.
Firefighters remain on the scene on Friday to dampen the building and make the area safe.
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 8.36pm on Thursday to reports of a fire at a derelict building on Leven Road, Lundin Links, Fife.
“At its height, operations control mobilised seven appliances, two height vehicles and specialist resources to extinguish the fire.
“A number of resources remain in attendance.
“There are no reported casualties.”
Lundin Links Hotel fire causes water supply issues
People living nearest the hotel have been evacuated and others have been told they may lose water due to the volume used to extinguish the blaze.
A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are currently responding to an incident in Lundin Links.
“As part of their response they require the use of a significant volume of water from our network.”
“Please be aware that you may experience no water supply or low / intermittent water pressure whilst they are on site. You may also experience discoloured water.
“Please be assured that we will work closely with Scottish Fire & Rescue to minimise the impact of this disruption where possible.”
Roads around the hotel were closed and the public has been asked to avoid the area.
A spokesperson from Levenmouth Police said: The fire service is in attendance in Lundin Links following a large fire at the former Lundin Links Hotel building.
“Road closures currently in place, so avoid the area unless completely necessary.”
Public transport was also disrupted due to road closures with a number of buses delayed and diverted.
Due to the fire in Lundin Links and the road being closed all 95, 395 will be running late. If you're going to School please get on any bus
— Stagecoach East Scotland (@StagecoachEScot) August 19, 2022
Residents evacuated
Local residents were also evacuated from their homes on Thursday night.
Iain Bayne, who lives 30 yards away from the abandoned building, says he and his neighbours were asked to leave their homes on Thursday night.
He said “It’s looking very bad.
“I think it’s a goner this time – virtually the whole roof is away.
“This isn’t the first time it has happened and it was inevitable that it was going to happen.
“There’s been so many times it has been on fire but this was on the top floor, which is different from previous times.”
‘Very, very thick smoke’
He added: “By the time the fire brigade got here there was a lot of very, very thick smoke and they were fighting a losing battle.
“They were in my garden monitoring what’s happening because there’s a lot of embers coming down and a lot of dead wood that’s been lying for years.
“Myself and my neighbours were told to pack our bags in case of evacuation and we have now been asked to leave our properties.
“It has been a constant worry for all of us, you anticipate it but you just hope and pray that it’s not going to happen but it is happening now – this is the big one, I think.
“The flames can be seen from miles away.
“It’s a very frightening experience for all concerned.”
The derelict hotel has been a magnet for vandals and firebugs since it closed in 2014.
Last month its owners launched a bid to wind up the company – a move that was slammed as a “last straw” for the community living in the shadow of Tudor-style Lundin Links Hotel.
There were plans by developer Kapital Residential to convert it into 35 flats. However, the building was allowed to fall into serious disrepair.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9pm on Thursday police were made aware of a fire at a hotel in Leven.
“Officers attended and assisted with traffic management.”
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