Fires hit two east london hotels

By John Hill on March 13, 2008 9:00 AM |

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GUESTS at two East London hotels were evacuated after fires just three days apart.

A supsected arson attack on a ground floor room at the Travelodge on Coriander Avenue forced 300 people into the car park last Tuesday night (March 4). And Custom House Hotel lost the use of all of its standard rooms on Friday (March 7), after a blaze damaged half of the building's roof and top floor.

Around 20 firefighters and four fire engines were called to quell the Travelodge fire after staff raised the alarm at 10.48pm. Crews from Poplar, Silvertown and Bow fire stations attended, and London Ambulance Service treated one person at the scene for slight smoke inhalation.

A Travelodge spokeswoman confirmed all guests were allowed back in their rooms within half an hour, and that no one was injured in the incident.

Police are treating the fire as a deliberate ignition, but no arrests have been made at this stage.
Custom House Hotel bosses are being forced to re-locate booked guests at other hotels following their own fire last week. A total of ten fire engines and 50 firefighters battled the blaze at the Victoria Dock Road premises, which is situated near the ExCeL exhibition centre.

Around 100 people were evacuated from the hotel and temporarily re-accommodated at a local school. Crews from Plaistow, Barking, Whitechapel, East Ham and Poplar fire stations were dispatched at 8.51pm, and the fire was under control just before midnight. The cause is still under investigation.

A spokesman for the hotel revealed the damage to the rooms would take six months to repair, but that the hotel was taking bookings for twin and double rooms as normal.