FIRE Brigade crews were called to a fire in the laundry area of the Woodford Bridge Hotel, Milton Damerel at 7.50pm on Monday.

Three fire appliances attended, one each from Holsworthy, Torrington and Bideford.

On arrival, crews found that there was a fire in the ground floor laundry and requested a fourth fire appliance to attend with a positive pressure ventilation fan. A second appliance from Bideford was then sent to the scene.

The ground floor of this three storey building, used as a hotel, was 30 per cent severely damaged by fire and 70 per cent damaged by heat and smoke. In addition, 20 per cent of the first floor and 20 per cent of the second floor was slightly damaged by smoke,

To extinguish the fire, crews used two breathing apparatus, one hose reel, one covering jet, a thermal imaging camera and a positive pressure ventilation fan.