Huge blaze at Walsall hotel was 'accidental'

The fire investigation team finished just before 6pm today, more than 24 hours after emergency services were first called to the Holiday Inn hotel on Wolverhampton Road West, near Junction 10 for the M6, in Walsall.

They have confirmed that the fire was started accidentally, but no more details have yet been provided.

Around 60 firefighters in 10 fire engines tackled the fire at its height, which is believed to have started in the sauna, according to a Holiday Inn spokesman.

Everyone was evacuated and no-one was injured, but the fire has completely destroyed the building.

New pictures which have emerged today show the full devastation of the blaze.

Firefighters remain at the scene making sure there are no hot spots, West Midlands Fire Service said this evening.

A spokeswoman said: "We have two fire engines and three officers at the scene.

"They're just making sure there are no hot spots to keep an eye on the site and make sure the fire doesn't start again.

"They have been able to get to some of the rooms but there is still structural damage in some of the areas."

Speaking to the Express & Star at the scene this morning, incident commander Dave Hodgkins said: "This is a very severe fire and we're still working to dampen down and target all of the hot spots.

"The building has been completely gutted out by the fire.

"We managed to save a small part of it when the fire was spreading, but the affected areas have been completely destroyed.

"We'll be here for the rest of today dampening it down, and by this afternoon we're expecting the fire investigations team to arrive and begin looking into the cause of the fire.

"They could take a few hours, and then they have to go away with the evidence and determine the cause.

"We have to make it safe before they go in, and because of how severe the fire was, firefighters will likely be at this scene until at least Monday.

"Determining the cause will also take some time."

Holiday Inn Express, which is located nearby to the burnt out Holiday Inn, confirmed it took some of the stranded guests in overnight.

A spokesperson for Holiday Inn Walsall said: “The safety and well-being of our guests and colleagues is our highest priority.

"We believe that all guests and employees have been evacuated, with guests being relocated to nearby hotels, and are working closely to confirm this with the emergency services who remain on site."