Hotel floor evacuated as fire crews called to blaze at Southsea Ibis

Crews from Southsea, Cosham and Portchester attended the Southsea Ibis Hotel in Fratton Way at 1.11pm.

The second floor was evacuated after the fire was found in a bedroom involving 'personal possessions.'

A spokeswoman for the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) said: 'Crews from Southsea, Cosham and Portchester were mobilised at 1.11pm to Fratton Way.

'There was a fire in a second-floor bedroom involving personal possessions

'The fire was extinguished using a fire extinguisher.

'A full evacuation of the second floor was carried out.

'One female was rescued by HFRS and handed to police.

'The stop message came in at 1.49pm.'

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: ‘We were called just before 12pm today (June 24) to a report of a woman threatening to start at fire at the Ibis Hotel in Fratton Way. Officers attended and a 33-year-old woman from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of arson. She remains in custody at this time.

‘We are continuing our patrols in the area, as has been previously advised, and are aware of residents’ concerns and will continue to respond to any incidents.’

A resident of the next-door Vista apartment block said: 'I was passing a window within a passageway of the Vista residential block that overlooks the Ibis following the commotion of emergency vehicles arriving.

'Soon after that a person was being escorted out of the building by police where the person appeared to be held by police in custody then placed in the back of a secure police vehicle or van.

'The fire services remained in attendance for at least an hour possibly conducting an investigation into the incident.'

The Ibis Hotel is currently being used to house homeless people by Portsmouth City Council during the pandemic.

It comes after several reports of anti-social behaviour from residents of the hotel that have led to a dispersal order being issued by police.

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