Five fire engines and two aerial ladders platform from Douglas are at the scene, along with two from Castletown and an engine from the airport.

The fire service has Tweeted: ‘We would like to advise people in properties surrounding the Mount Murray area to keep all windows and doors closed at this time.’

And it is urging the public to avoid the area until the incident is brought under control.

An eyewitness told iomtoday at 11am that the building was ‘still well alight’, although it had appeared to have been brought under control.

Isle of Man Newspapers reporter Adrian Darbyshire is at the scene now (11.50am) and says that the main accommodation block is well alight.

The accommodation block appears to be the only part of the complex that is alight, however, it’s hard to determine exactly what’s happening because the smoke is so thick.

It seems that fire crews are trying to stop the fire spreading to the conference centre and function area.

Flames had been leaping up to 15 feet into the air but seem to be dying down now.


Police have blocked off the main Mount Murray road and the airport fire service has joined the regular fire service to fight the fire.

The fire service has been taking water from the lake to quell the flames.

The roof and the top floor of the accommodation are seem to be completely burnt out.

Mount Murray resident Paul Teare saw the smoke from as far away as B&Q on Cooil Road.

He was driving home.

‘I knew it was in the Mount Murray area and I was worried in case it was my house.

‘The fire engine overtook me on the way there.’

He added: ‘The fire crews acted quickly trying to stop the blaze.’


Retired marketing manager John Martin and his wife Pamela live in Fairways Drive at Mount Murray.

Mr Martin said: ‘When we arrived there was thick black smoke and flames. It started from the left of the roof and went along the roof like wildfire because of the wind. It shot across the roof.’

The fire service says it believes that staff and hotel guests are all safe.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The technical director of the Mount Murray, Brian Stowell, said that roofers had been working at the hotel this morning.

‘I can’t understand how it’s managed to burn, I really can’t,’ he said. ‘But it has gone up.

‘I’m just grateful and so is Mr Gubay (Albert Gubay, the hotel’s owner) that everyone seems to be safe.’

Mount Murray guests who might have been out of the building when the fire broke out can ring the police on 631483 for more information.

The police stressed the number was for hotel guests only.



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