Fire drill thought to have contained losses

A full scale fire drill just days before a fire at the Halland Hotel, in Ta' l-Ibrag, claimed the life of a British tourist could have avoided more serious consequences, the hotel owners believe.

Tourists approached yesterday as they returned to collect their personal effects lauded the manner in which hotel staff handled the emergency. They also had words of praise for the firemen.

The 60 tourists transferred to the Dolmen Hotel, in Qawra on Monday night after the fire were yesterday able to return to the hotel to take out their luggage and other belongings.

The fire, which started in the boiler room, resulted in the death of 42-year-old Briton Stephen Northrop from Oxfordshire. He died as a result of smoke inhalation.

An inquiry to establish the cause of the fire is being conducted by Magistrate Joe Cassar.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, who was at the scene of the fire, told The Times on Monday night Mr Northrop, who was in his room on the fifth floor when the fire broke out, was repeatedly asked by Civil Protection Department personnel to go onto the balcony but refused to do so. Instead he tried to leave his room - inhaling smoke in the process. He collapsed and was carried down to the lobby where he was resuscitated briefly before losing consciousness.

Seven people, including a baby, were plucked to safety by the Civil Protection Department.

The Tumas Group of Companies, owners of the 75-bedroom hotel, yesterday expressed regret at the circumstances which led to Mr Northrop's death.

"The group, under the direction of the chief security officer who also specialises in health and safety, took immediate steps to minimise the threat to all the other residents and the staff by evacuating all persons in the hotel in the first instance and then making the necessary arrangements to relocate all the residents to the Dolmen Resort Hotel, forming part of the same group.

"The hotel management had just carried out a total refurbishment of the heating system together with an upgrading of the fire detection alarms while the full scale fire drill carried out a few days ago must have contributed in no small degree to lessening the threat to life and property."

CPD head Peter Cordina said yesterday Monday night's operation involved the department's four stations in Malta.

A total of 30 personnel and 10 fire engines took part in a major operation which started at about 9 p.m. The fire was under control by 11 p.m.

Manuel Fenech, a member of the Tumas Group, said the hotel had not sustained structural damage though an area was covered in soot.

Tourists staying at the Halland praised the CPD and the hotel management for their handling of the incident.

Stephen John McFall, a regular British tourist, said he had never experienced anything similar to Monday's fire and did not want to go through a similar experience again. Although the incident obviously affected his holiday, he was thankful to be alive. Mr McFall said the staff and all those taking part in the fire fighting operation on Monday had been amazing.

Another tourist, Tommy Papp of Sweden, had just arrived in Malta earlier in the day. Having returned to the hotel early after dinner, he decided to have a beer before going to bed. Suddenly the staff were running around, shouting "fire", he said.

Mr Papp said he did not realise immediately that the situation was so serious and went for a walk thinking it would all be over by the time he returned. However, he was then asked to board a coach heading for the Dolmen Hotel.